In Remembrance

Violet Gertrude Mackey, 104, passed into God’s care on December 16, 2020 at The North Shore Estates, Duluth, Minnesota.

Violet was born on May 11, 1916 in Kinney, MN, the youngest of six children to Charles and Aiti Mackey.

After graduating from high school, Violet moved to New York to join her sister Ardelle and some friends in a shared apartment. She worked as a bookkeeper for the F. W. Woolworth Co. in New York City. She later worked for the Steinway Piano Co. in San Francisco, CA and for a Cadillac dealership in Minneapolis, MN. In the late 1950s, Violet was diagnosed with a large brain tumor. She survived the brain surgery but was permanently impaired leaving her unable to continue her work as a bookkeeper. Following her recovery, Violet remained active and did volunteer work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. She worked in the bandage and linen area of the hospital for 25 years. The hospital staff at St. Mary’s gave her a special retirement party in appreciation for her dedicated service. She was invited to attend a 100+ year old birthday celebration hosted at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in October of 2019. Violet was an outgoing and social person, well-liked by all and had many friends.

She is survived by her nephews, Roland Rogers and Onni (Bud) Mackey, Jr., her nieces, Daryl Rathe, Elizabeth (Betty) Beattie, Ferrislynn Boya, Deb Benham and many great nieces and nephews.

Violet’s family would like to thank her Guardian, Brian Smith, of the St. Louis County HHS Department and the entire staff at The North Shore Estates for all of their wonderful and compassionate care.