Ann McQuay

A Memorial Mass was held for Ann Louise McQuay, age 88, a resident of the Long Prairie Memorial Home in Long Prairie, MN on Monday, May 19, 2003 at 10:00 AM at the St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie with Father Mark Stang presiding. Interment of Ashes was in the Oak Valley Cemetery in rural Hewitt, MN. Ann Louise McQuay was born to Charles and Catherine Connelly on October 27, 1914 in Eagle Bend, MN. She was named after her mother?s sisters, but Charles never liked the names so he nicknamed her ?Girlie? and it stuck with her for the rest of her life. She grew up in Eagle Bend and Wadena, MN. She played on the girl?s traveling basketball team that played other town teams in the area. Girlie married John Clinton McQuay on January 15, 1932 and raised 5 children. She also had 4 nephews and nieces that spent a lot of time with them on the farm in Otter Tail County. She was active in Homemakers Clubs, Royal Neighbors, VFW Auxiliary and was a 4-H leader for her children. She and John both worked to help with the family expenses. Girlie cooked at nightclubs in the area, such as the River Inn in Aldrich, MN, the Pine Cove Inn in Wadena and the Lantern in Cushing, MN. When John worked away from home, she ran the farm and kept things going. In 1965, they sold the farm and moved to Elk River where they worked different jobs until john went to work for the state and Girlie went to work for Honeywell. When they retired they spent a lot of time baby-sitting their grandchildren, taking camping trips and fishing. They also worked on a son?s farm doing the farming. After John passed away, Girlie moved to Anoka, MN and started volunteering at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN, still spending a lot of time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was always ready to go anywhere. She made many trips to Indiana and Virginia to visit nieces. She also got to take a trip to Ireland with 2 of her nieces, which she enjoyed very much. She loved coming up to the lake to go fishing, visit with the neighbors and play with her great grandchildren. Girlie passed away at the Long Prairie Memorial home in Long Prairie, MN on May 13, 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband John in 1985; mother & father; oldest daughter Mary Lou Henderson; brothers James Patrick Connelly and Charles Coleman ?Bud? Connelly; sister Gladys Barett; and grandsons Marlo Lynn Henderson and Shawn Peter Winchester. She is survived by sons Charles Burton and his wife Ione of Foreston, MN and John Thomas and his wife Dorothy of Andover, MN; daughters Burnell and her husband Bill Miller of Ogilvie, MN and Susanne and her husband Delroy Winchester of Anoka, MN; son-in-law Marvin Henderson; 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Honorary Pallbearers for her Memorial Mass were Michael Henderson, Terry Henderson, Tony Winchester, John McQuay, Greg McQuay and Tom McQuay.

Ann McQuay

October 27, 1914 - May 13, 2003