Sally Annabella Abbe

SALLY ANNABELLA ABBE Sally Annabella (Marsh) Abbe, 89, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. How do you sum up a lifetime of wisdom, love, and generosity in just a few paragraphs? The truth isyou can't. But we try because she deserves to be remembered fully. Sally was born on July 9, 1935, in Oscoda County, Michigan, to George Marsh and Elizabeth (Schrott) Marsh. She was proud to be the daughter of the Sheriff and loved to tell the story of planting white pine saplings in front of the sheriff's department and courthouse with her mothertrees that still stand tall today. Sally began working at the age of 12, washing dishes in a local restaurant. She continued working in food service until she married and moved to Detroit, where she worked at a racetrack and a gasket machine shop while raising their four children. Eventually, the family returned to Oscoda County and started their own business, Abbe's Plumbing and Heating, where Sally kept the books and helped keep everything running. Sally was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved her family fiercely and gave selflessly to her community. She was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Moose Club, the Lady Lions Club, and the American Legion. She and her husband Gerald instilled a deep love for country and community in their children and grandchildren. Sally was especially proud of her husband and two sons for their service in the military. She was always the first to volunteer her time, whether helping run rummage sales for the American Legion or cooking pies and nachos every Thursday to raise funds for the Cheboygan Moose Club. If someone in town needed a hand, Sally was there. In her free time, she kept a beautiful garden (despite being allergic to bees), mowed her own lawn, and poured her creativity into porcelain dolls, Christmas wreaths, hand-painted wooden signs, china, and hundreds of bows for the Eagles' Christmas baskets. She sold many of her creations at local craft shows. She also loved sewing, especially making baby quiltsdoing her best to sew one for each great-grandchild until her eyesight no longer allowed. Sally was a gifted cook and could make just about anything, though she didn't let many people into her kitchen. Her pies were legendary, especially during the holidays, and she delighted in passing down her recipes and kitchen wisdom to those lucky enough to learn. She and Gerald shared a love for dancing, traveling the country, and playing the slots. She never had more energy than when hopping from one casino to the next in Biloxi. She kept a little black book of all her favorite machinescomplete with serial numbers. Later in life, she became a passionate Michigan State basketball fan who could talk smack with the best of them. Sally lived a full, bold, and generous life. Her love will be felt for generations, in the traditions she started, the stories she told, the recipes we'll keep making, and the deep roots she plantedin both her family and her community. She is survived by her 4 children, Steven Claude (Wendy) Abbe, Scott Marsh (Deborah) Abbe, Gerri Elizabeth (Jody) Thomas, Shawn Glen (Jill) Abbe; 17 grandchildren; Steven (Heather), Jamie, Kenneth (Stephanie), Jessica (Ryan), Dee (Dan), Desiree (Josh), Mitch (Beth), Brandi (Chuck), Chrissy (Cliff), Michelle (Dean), Brandon (Amanda), Chelsea (William), Kerri (A.J.), Hope (Michael), Faith (Payton), Ashley (Rocky), Matthew (Jorden); 35 great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. Sally was preceded in death by her loving husband Gerald Abbe, their infant son, her parents, brother George (Sonny), and sisters Lorraine, and Margaret (Margie). A Celebration of Life for Gerald and Sally will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Comins Eagles, 3544 Abbe Rd, Comins MI 48619, from 2-5 pm. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, visit our websitewww.millsfuneral.com