Macquelin Mae "Mackie" Helin

HELIN, Macquelin Mae "Mackie" (Frank) – of Davison, MI, age 90, passed away Saturday, November 15, 2025. Cremation has taken place. To honor Mackie's memory, a private family gathering will be held.
Mackie was born in Jefferson City, MO on November 29, 1934, daughter of the late Bill and Naomia (Hall) Fleming.
My Mother. "ma" as I called her, is a self-proclaimed Ozark girl, who grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri. She worked at the Capital, said things like "Jeff City" and "warsh", and proclaimed "as a good catholic girl" she could put her lipstick on without a mirror.
Mom married into a legendary fishing family, moved to Grosse Pointe, and had 4 pretty interesting children with my dad. Larry. She later moved to Windsor, married "Cookie", drove the Detroit-Windsor tunnel like a race car driver, owned Best Tackle, and manufactured fishing lures just blocks away from Helin Tackle.
She had a great sense of humor. Mom loved a good joke and could deliver one, didn't shy away from the dirty ones, and listened intently to the endless blond jokes that my dad and brother would tell her.
She loved her naps, drinking coffee with Kahlua from a teacup, staying in her pajamas all day, and waking up without an alarm.
Mom loved a good party, the Detroit Tigers, her neighbors, working in her garden beds, "Big water views", and a tropical drink with an umbrella in it regardless of the time of year.
She loved her hamburgers pink, her meat on the bone, her fish fresh caught, and her hot fudge sundaes with extra hot fudge.
She was a collector of many things. Her favorites being antique glass, teacups, and all things fish.
Mom, being a single child, made friends easily. In her lifetime, she was lucky enough to have made a few best friends close enough to call "sister". She always had plans with friends to play bridge, go antiquing or to travel, as she loved a weekend getaway.
She cherished her four children, her three granddaughters, her sons-in-law, and her dog, Maxwell. She kept all the cards and letters from her children and granddaughters, and from time to time gifted them with "treasures" from her collections.
Later in mom's life, she loved and was loved by her caregivers. Her joke telling, sassiness, and sage advice was bestowed on to them as well.
To me, mom was the keeper of my secrets, the first person I swore at as a teen and the first person to swear back at me. She bought me my first pina colada. She was also the first person who I shared my news with, good or bad, and when it was bad, she reminded me that "this too shall pass".
I will always remember her sound advice, treasure her "treasures" and toast "Cheers to Grandma", with a tropical drink in hand.
Mackie is survived by her children, Julie (Dan) Hoban, Bryan Helin, Eric Helin and Laurie (Chris) Cooper; granddaughters, Jamie Hoban, Jenna Hoban and Caitlin Cooper; many other loving family members and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Naomia Fleming.
Please share your thoughts with the family at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com