Always felt lucky to be able to say “She’s my Aunt Mary!” Lots of
great memories growing up with my Aunt Mary and her family. As a kid, Aunt Mary always made us feel like it was awesome to be a kid. Her greatness is reflected, not only in all of the things she was involved in, but her kids as well. She will be missed. An aunt is a gift that can never be taken from you, even in death.
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I have such fond memories of Mary. In latter years, said hello many times at Cherry Republic on our yearly visits. Going back to when we lived in Glen Arbor, she and my mother were friends, and I can distinctly remember the two of them talking (probably about women’s rights!) RIP Mary, and love to all the Sutherland clan.
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I was blessed to meet Mary with her twin sister Tish and her daughter Patty numerous times in the past year, or so. Mary was a fireball who was clearly loved and esteemed by her children. I heard many fun stories. I could see Mary was clear in what she wanted and did not want. I admire that. I wish Mary and her family a loving and peaceful journey💕 She clearly left lasting memories that will continue on💕
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I never met Mary, yet I am in debt to her and her efforts on behalf of others. I work at a state psychiatric hospital, and her book
Claim Your Self, was a favorite with my patients. Her straight forward explanations and examples made it easy for people to relate to and then think about their own situations. It was the one book I had to replace most often because someone would be given permission to "forget" to return it prior to their discharge. When I go up to Michigan each summer, I scour the shops to get more copies! I always hoped to see her at Cherry Republic to thank her for all she did and continues to do through that one book. She made a huge difference for many people who never got to meet her, myself included. Thank you, Mary.
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Mary Sutherland was one of my heroes. I met her when I was 22 years old and was fortunate to work with her in the formative days of the Women's Resource Center. She had a strong influence on my life and our community. I learned many things from Mary that have served me well in my work in our region for nearly 50 years.
I am eternally grateful to Mary Sutherland for all she taught me and how she demonstrated to all of us what it means to be a strong and loving woman leader. Rest well, friend, you gave it your all and we are all better for it.
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Mary and I became close friends in the mid-1950's when my parents built a cottage on the beach in Glen Arbor. She and I discovered quickly that we were both passionate about women's rights, and cheered each other on as we did important work that we have each continued ever since. Mary invited me to speak a number of times over the years in Leelanau and Traverse, and I always flew in from California (where I live) with pleasure, looking forward not just to speaking, but also to visiting (often staying with) Mary and her family. During our 70+ year friendship, it has been a treat to watch her children grow up; I still feel fortunate to count the boys and Patty among my friends. Mary's energy, intelligence, commitment, effectiveness, and big heart made her a force. I will miss her; many will. She made our world a better place.
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Mary's son, Tim, and I graduated from Alma College together in 1976. Tim told me his dad was looking for a language arts teacher, so I applied and got hired. Not long after, I met Mary, and it was instant mutual admiration. I so looked up to her! She, in turn, admired my take-no-prisoners attitude toward life. When I found out she was teaching Assertiveness Training in Traverse City, I went to see her and tried to sign up for the class. She threw back her head, laughing long and loudly. "Oh, my dear," she finally gasped. "You can't take my class. You could TEACH this class!" I saw her a few years ago in the store, and she remembered me, and that story, instantly. Such a wonderful woman! I shall miss her enormously. Hugs to Tim, Paul, Patty, Bobby, Matt and Michael. You are all in my prayers.
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Wow, I had no idea that this active lady whom I knew was Bob’s mom, was such a dynamo. Now, of course, I wish I had the opportunity to fall under her spell.
September 2013 I was about to head to Poland for a board meeting of a global company based in the US. Faced with a cherry shortage in Northern MI, I recalled the clever Cherry Republic marketing of how grateful you were to the people of Poland to provide cherries for the customers of Cherry Republic.
I went into the store in Glen Arbor to get some cherries to bring BACK to Poland and found this sign, and Mary wearing a TShirt thanking the Polish people. She literally gave me the shirt off her back (the last one, she said) and our Polish friends LOVED the presentation of Poland>US>Poland cherry gift and Tshirt!
She sounded like the definition of making a difference on earth. Darcy Howe
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Mary was the definition of dynamo. Huge heart, too.
One of THE biggest compliments of my life was when she said to me, "I've learned a great deal from you, Susan. How'd you get so smart?"
My response?
"From listening to you and those few like you, Mary."
Big love to her family, friends and community.
Susan Odgers
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Originally a native of Traverse City, I was working as the Director of the Department of Human Services in Big Rapids and commuting from Traverse City. I heard of an opening in Leelanau County. During those years, the local DHS Board did the interviews and recommended their choice to the State Director. Mary Sutherland was chair of the local Leelanau Board and served along with Marilyn Singer and Carol Smith. No where else in the State was their a DHS Board comprised of three women. And at that time, out of 83 Counties, there were only about 8 women Directors….even though the majority of the employees in the Department were women. Interviewing with these three professional, confident and assertive women was a pleasure. Gone were the questions about how my spouse felt about me taking this job or the question about the job interfering in my family life or would I have the stamina to deal with the tough parts of the job. They wanted to hear about me, my successes, my struggles, my ambitions, my skills, my experience, my leadership qualities…For the first time in my career, I had witnessed the experience of being in a room with three very confident and “powerful” women and felt heard! I left that day knowing that I would be chosen for the job. I had the opportunity to work with these three wonderful women for a number of years as we worked together to make an impact on the lives of women in Leelanau County.
To me, Mary was a mentor who taught me the difference between aggressive and assertive. Leelanau County is a special place with special people BECAUSE of Mary Sutherland. I hope and pray her children have peace knowing that so many of us owe our own happiness to their mother. When I came to Leelanau, I was going through a divorce, from my own abuser. I found strength from Mary to learn to let go of the feeling of low self worth and to believe that I deserved better than the abuse. She gave me the power to help other women….and so Mary lives on in those of us who learned from her. There will always be a special place in my heart for Mary Sutherland. ❤️
2
Sudsy, and all the Sutherland Gang,
I am sorry for your loss of your mom. Such a blessing for all of you to have such a bright shining light of a person for your mom. Sending Love and Prayers, Sam
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I took 2-3 NMC assertiveness/communication classes from Mary when I was in my early 30's. To best describe how impactful they were, I later taught Assertiveness Training classes. Mary truly contributed to my sense of self-confidence and communication skills and I am very grateful. I have wondered what she did following her NMC days and appreciated learning from her obituary. She was very talented in teaching and verbal skills. My sympathy to her loved ones who miss her.
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Mary Sutherland was a wise and witty woman. I first met her in the 1950s when I was a scrawy12-year-old and Mary was a young mother and she and her husband Dale and their six children were up from downstate, camping on their lot near the D. H. Day State Park, not having yet moved to Glen Arbor. Later, in the 1970s when I worked at the Record-Eagle, Mary was a, astute and savvy advocate for a woman who'd been charged with her ex-husband's murder; the woman was found not guilty at trial because her attorney, Dean Robb, convinced the judge and jury that the woman had stabbed her ex-husband in self-defense. Still later, in the 1980s, when I was writing for Detroit Monthly and Mary and I attended an event that featured a young lad, seated on a rickety folding chair on a dimly lit stage, channeling information about property values from unseen spirits. About 10 minutes into this Mary leaned over and whispered low in her inimitable Gilda Radner voice, "If the spirit says
etcetera one more time, I'm going to scream." She was a wonderful friend. My love to her vast family.
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My delightful memory of Mary:
at Leelanau Democrat gatherings, she shepherded the silent auctions with a forceful Circle Tour around the room, encouraging us to increase our puny bids. We did.
-- Beverly Gilmore
Jacksonville FL
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I was a failing Junior at Glen Lake High School in 1970. Mary took hold and gave me nurturing directon. Because of her guidance and belief in me, I graduated and went on to enjoy a successful 50 year career in broadcast media. This wouldn’t have been possible without her divine intervention. Thank you “Aunt Mary” and enjoy your recently acquired wings.
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Our sincere condolence to the family of Mary She was certainly a memorable women I'm sure you all have memories of her to keep her spirit alive in all of you Memories always help with the loss. She had a remarkable life I made her Chili and she always called me the chili lady That's a memory i will always remember
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There are few people who can have such a positive and significant impact on the lives of others: empowering, enabling and freeing them to be their very best selves. Mary was one of those people, so grateful to have known her. She was simply the best.
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One of the best things I received from my years working in the bakery at Cherry Republic, was getting to know Mary, and becoming her friend. We had some great conversations, good times going together to political events, and enjoying some fun times together. My condolences to the Sutherland family. Mary was always a force to be reckoned with, and she will be missed by her family, her friends, and the entire community. R I P Mary.
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