Sue Allison

Sue Catherine Allison was a compassionate Christian woman who learned to appreciate hard work and inner strength at an early age. Dedicated to her church, her family, and her friends, Sue will be remembered by those she touched as a loving person, whose thoughts and actions were always for the needs of others.

The time from 1910 to 1919 is sometimes known as the “Over There” decade. While most of the world’s attention was focused on events in Europe, Eli and Lydia (Wagoner) Metzger’s attention was focused on running their farm and providing for their five children. Eli and Lydia lived in Menominee, Wisconsin, a small farming community in the north central part of the state, and on October 11, 1911, the entire family welcomed the seventh and last child into the family, Sue Catherine. Sue was loving surrounded by sisters Mary Ann, Edna, and Martha and brothers Henry and Harvey.

In 1919, when Sue was eight years old, Eli and Lydia moved the family to the Scottville area of Michigan. Eli continued farming on Tuttle Road in Custer Township while Lydia cared for the home and the children. Like many young people at the time, Sue attended the Wilson School through the eighth grade. With such a large family, everyone’s support was needed and Sue did her share. She worked for people in the community as a housekeeper, doing cleaning, cooking and other household chores. It was a big responsibility for a girl of 13 or 14, and Sue learned the value of hard work

Sue continued working and living in Scottville. Ballgames were a popular community event in those days, and while attending a game, she met a young man named Otto George Allison. Their relationship soon blossomed into love and the couple was married on June 5, 1935 in Custer.

With the advent of World War II in the early 1940’s, Otto was drafted into the service, along with thousands of other American husbands, sons and fathers. Sue was able to go with her husband, living on bases in California and Colorado where Otto was stationed. Near the end of the war, Otto was discharged and he and Sue moved back to their home in Scottville, after briefly living in Muskegon. It was here that they welcomed son Otto Gene into the family. A few years later in 1948, they moved to Ludington, and soon would welcome another addition to their family with the birth of daughter Nancy. Sue loved being a mother and was very compassionate and sympathetic when it came to injuries or illnesses. Even after they were grown, her kids always made sure their mother knew when they were sick – to reap the benefits of what they called “the sympathy factor.” Sue was involved in their lives outside the home, volunteering with the Child Study Club and as a Girl Scout leader. The strong values she had learned as a young girl were values that Sue instilled into her own children. But she also gave them the freedom to be their own person. Always encouraging them, Otto and Nancy considered their mother their #1 fan. They knew that she had confidence in them to succeed at what ever they chose to do.

Sue loved her family with all her heart. She would spoil them by baking her mouth-watering rolls, and including the many fruits and vegetables she had canned in her delicious and hearty meals. Church was another important part of family life, and Sue was an active member of the Women’s Missionary Society of her church, Washington Avenue Baptist in Ludington, now called Cornerstone Baptist. She enjoyed reading the Book of Psalms in the Bible, and listenening to old hymns. In later years, when she was no longer able to attend church, she became a faithful listener to the services on the radio.

Sue and Otto became good friends with Carl and Audrey Witt and their children, and the two families often took vacations together. They would rent cabins or go camping on the many lakes in the area, usually around the Fourth of July. These were great times for everyone and the Witts and the Allisons remained good friends through the years.

After the children were grown, Sue and Otto continued to vacation with Carl and Audrey. They traveled as far away as Texas, Florida and South Carolina, as well as enjoying the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Sadly, her beloved Otto died on October 12, 1990. This was a difficult time for Sue but she had the love and support of her children to uplift her.

Her first and only plane trip was to visit her granddaughter in Minnesota, accompanied by Nancy. Unfortunately, it was a very bumpy flight, and definitely not a pleasant experience for Sue. On the flight back home, Sue sarcastically asked Nancy if there was anywhere else she thought she had to go. Sue never flew again, but she did take many day trips with Nancy, with much happier results. Nancy always enjoyed spending this time with her mother.

Sue had been very supportive of Nancy, often helping her around her home, cleaning and caring for her children, granddaughters, Shawna and Allison. She was a wonderful grandma to the girls and treated them both with equal amounts of love. Nancy was able to return her mother’s help when Sue suffered a stroke and was not able to care for her own home. Never one to complain, Sue was not defeated by her stroke. The nurses often commented on her positive attitude, and would call her “the perfect patient”. A very strong and determined woman, supported by her faith, Sue literally willed herself to recover.

Sue Allison was always willing to help others, whether it was cleaning, cooking, or doing whatever was needed. Her life of service and love for others is a legacy to be cherished by her family. She will be greatly missed.

Sue Allison died on Friday, March 4, 2005 at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington. She was preceded in death by her husband Otto George, her parents, her sisters Bessie Metzger, Mary Ann Metzger, Edna Cable, and Martha Morell, and her two brothers Henry and Harvey Metzger. Sue will be lovingly remembered by her children Otto Gene Allison of Ludington, and Nancy (Dan ) Bradshaw of Scottville, her granddaughters Shawna and Allison Bradshaw both of Grand Rapids, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Sue at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 9, at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington with her pastor, Dr. James Carlson officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Custer. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville. Please visit Sue’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory for her family, sign the guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to the Cornerstone Baptist Church Building Fund, or the Aviary Fund at Tendercare Nursing Home.