Ethel was born in Alboin, Iowa to parents John Wesley Halladay and Martha Lillian “Charlier” Halladay on September 6, 1939. She was the fifth of seven children. John Jr. “Sam”, Martha “Anne”, William, Leslie “Wimp”, Ethel, Roger “Allen”, and Lois.
She attended Albion schools and graduated in 1957. She met her husband Eugene “Gene” while she was a clerk at a grocery store in Marshalltowm, Iowa and Gene was home on leave form the USAF. They soon were married in April of 1958 and Forrest was born in October 1958 at Whiteman Airforce Base in Warrensburg, Missouri. She traveled with Gene to New York City “Brooklyn”, while Gene was stationed in Newfoundland.
Doreen was born on the Old Governors Island Fort, Base Hospital.
Forrest loved to ride the subways and trains as Ethel travelled to the Air Force Hospital.
Gene was honorablly discharged from the Air Force and they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa.
However an Uncle “Roy Bridges” was visiting his sister, Gene’s mother, Fleta Hammer, and he told of the riches in the copper mines in Miami, Arizona. Then it was off to Arizona in 1967. They never moved again.
Ethel always worked as a secretary, starting with Dr. Skinner, the local Veterinarian, Burch and Miller Real Estate”, Miami School District, Mitch’s True Value with John Michalegko, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, Arizona Department of Transportation, Miami Justice Court, and Gila County Justice of the Peace. Then she retired.
Ethel always donated her time and talents. She was a self taught seamstress, crochet and knit master, cook and baker. She used these talents to raise funds to help the needs of a cause as well as make garments and cook for her family. She helped the Globe-Miami community with her talents. She also donated her talents to organizations such as Cobre Valley Junior Women’s Club, United Steelworkers Union #586 Ladies Auxiliary, The Elks Club Ladies Auxiliary “Emblem Club”, Ladies Club of the American Legion, Bullion Plaza Museum and Cultural Center, and Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary. She helped make Globe-Miami a “better place to live”.
Her son said that he had one of the best mothers a man could ever have.
She leaves a legacy behind in children Forest and Debra, Doreen and Jim Mills, their sons James/Annette: Brett, Megan Allyson. Adam/Angelica Shay/Leslie, Taylor Adam and Angelica: Vanna, Alexia, Kaydance, Adam Jr./Leslie Taylor: Cash, Axel, Brody and Angel Taylor.
She also leaves behind great-great grandchildren: Bretts: Cordelle Cecil and Megans’: Ariel Morrow.
Altogether with James and Adam she has 7 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Through another soon to be marriage she will inherit another 5 great-great grandchildren.
Taking the path to heaven before her are her parents John and Martha; husband Eugene; sisters Martha Anne and Lois; brothers: William and Roger Allen Halladay and her granddaughter Meghan Lynne Hammer from Forrest and Debra.
Ethel has numerous nieces and nephews from Arizona and all points North, East and West in the states.
Her family and friends will miss her, but all remember that she stood for a better life through helping your neighbor.
She ended up suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in the last several years of her life.
Donations can be made to the Mohammed Ali Parkinson’s and Cognitive Disorders Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Marwan Sabbaugh. https://wwwbarrowneuro.org/
