Known for his wisdom and kindness, Marvin S. MacDonald, age 98, lived a joyous life, dearly loved by his family and all who knew him. On Friday, June 14, 2024, he died peacefully at the MyMichigan Medical Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A lifelong member of the Pickford Methodist Church, he was a man of deep spiritual insight and strong Christian beliefs.
Born to James Albert (Bert) and Katie Lavina (Galer) MacDonald on November 8, 1925, Marvin grew up on the MacDonald family farm, one and one half miles south of Pickford on Highway M-129. He graduated from the Pickford Public Schools in 1943, and maintained friendships with most of his classmates throughout his life. In 2018 he and his wife Virgene hosted the 75th reunion of the PHS Class of 1943 at their home in Pickford.
Marvin served in the United States Army in the Philippines from 1945-1946 and served occupation duty in Korea. His brother Eddie was deployed in the Philippines at the same time, and one Thanksgiving they were able to meet in Manilla to celebrate the holiday together. Marvin lived to sing and was known for his beautiful tenor voice. While working in the Philippines at the BX, he would sing to the Filipino telephone operators who did their work in a caged area to avoid contact with the GIs.
After his army service, Marvin returned to his hometown of Pickford, Michigan, and went to work for the Pickford Creamery making ice cream. There he met the love of his life, Virgene Anne Cottle, who loved his shy smile and wonderful sense of humor. They were married on April 19, 1948. After their marriage, he and Virgene embarked upon their faith journey together, and Virgene was baptized by Marvin’s Aunt Sarah MacDonald, one of the first ordained women ministers in Michigan. Marvin and Virgene were privileged to celebrate nearly 73 years of married life together.
Marvin was employed at the Rudyard Pickford Coop from 1951-1987, many of those years as the store manager of the Pickford branch. After retirement there, he served as the bookkeeper from 1989-2015 for Dr. Clint and Barb Groover at the Pickford Veterinary Clinic. He retired from that job to care for Virgene during their last years together.
Always interested in new ideas and in learning, Marvin’s many hobbies included gardening and collecting and cutting stones to make jewelry. Each summer he planted a large vegetable garden, but most of all he loved the challenge of growing long-stem roses. When his roses were in bloom, he always kept a rose in Virgene’s favorite vase on her chairside table as a reminder of their love. For years, well into his 90s, he spent hunting season at the hunting camp with his family, and for many years he participated in making maple syrup at the MacDonald sugar bush.
One of his children’s favorite memories is their bedtime tradition of gathering around their father as he read them a Bible story and then led them in the Lord’s Prayer.
Marvin is survived by his children, Carol Anne (Jeff) Lamb and Wayne Marvin (Ruth) MacDonald of Pickford, and Steven Carl (Cindi) MacDonald of Kalamazoo; also his grandchildren and their families, Patrick (Kim) Lamb, Laura Lamb, Katie (Paul) Wood, Joel (Jaime) MacDonald, Jana (Nate) Copenhafer, Alisa (Ben) Davis, and Craig MacDonald. He is survived by fourteen great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law Lorraine Galer, his brothers-in-law Gerald (Sharon) Cottle and Charles (Marcia) Cottle. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and by special friends, Clint and Barb Groover and their children and grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife Virgene, Marvin was preceded in death by his brothers Edwin Junior and James Merrill MacDonald, sisters Katherine Joy and Gertrude Elizabeth MacDonald, and by sisters-in-law Myrtle Crawford MacDonald and Barbara Cottle Callentine; brothers-in-law Merlin Galer and Bill Callentine; and nephews Brad Cottle and Bobby MacDonald.
Services will be held at the Pickford Global Methodist Church on Friday, June 28 with visitation at 1 pm and the funeral at 2 pm. Interment will be in the Cottle Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Pickford Global Methodist Church, P.O. Box 128, Pickford, MI 49774.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
