Mary Elizabeth Polly (Traughber) Underwood
Born Aug. 15, 1922, the daughter of Tom and Nannie Lou (Adams) Traughber in Robertson County, Tennessee.
Mrs. Underwood worked as a housekeeper in Springfield, Tennessee, and at a shirt laundry in Nashville before she came to Detroit in 1945. In Detroit, she worked as a riveter on B-24s at Willow Run and, after the war, as a sandwich-maker for Sanders.
She married Herschel Underwood on Oct. 23, 1948, in Detroit. The two moved to a home on Park Court in Madison Heights in 1955, where they raised eight children. She was known for her garden in the front yard which included cockscomb, moss roses, tobacco plants and alyssum. Her love for family was often expressed through her cooking. Her fried chicken and country biscuits were a family favorite. She kept a list of “favorite desserts” for family members, who looked forward to treats from her kitchen.
After Mr. Underwood retired in 1982, their son Paul built a home for them in Aurora, Kentucky. As a faithful member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Aurora, she grew flowers for the altar and she was among the first women to participate in scripture readings during Mass. Her hush puppies were well-known to those who attended the Knights of Columbus fish fries. In 2010, the two returned to Michigan where they enjoyed life at the Village of East Harbor in New Baltimore until Mr. Underwood’s death April 22, 2015.
Mrs. Underwood is survived by her children Donna (William) Remer of Armada, Michigan; James Herschel (Elisabeth) Underwood of Salem, Oregon; Karen (Luca) Miceli of Shelby Township, Michigan; Mary (David) Faley of Marysville, Michigan; Paul Underwood of Portland, Oregon; Philip (Jean) Underwood of Portland, Oregon; and Patrick (Sheila) Underwood of Worthville, Kentucky. She was predeceased by son John Wiley Underwood in 1974.
She is also survived by grandchildren John Abernathy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Margaret Farenger of Chesterfield Township, Michigan; Mark (Stacey) Abernathy of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Ellen (Nathan) James of San Antonio, Texas; Lauren Underwood of Brooklyn, New York; Irene Underwood of Eugene, Oregon: Adele Underwood of Salem, Oregon; Ann Miceli (William Lucas) of Erbil, Kurdistan; Joseph (Maria) Miceli of Rochester, Michigan; Ross (Heather) Faley of Tubac, Arizona; Eve Faley of San Dimas, California; Sharon (Jarvis) Harvey of Van Nuys, California; Ryan Faley of Van Nuys, Calilfornia; Levi Underwood of Seattle, Washington; Logan Underwood of Worthville, Kentucky.
Great-grandchildren are: Dylan Farenger of Portland, Oregon; Daniel Wood of Chesterfield Township, Michigan; James Thomas and Ella Abernathy of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Gabriella, Aidan and Christopher Miceli of Rochester, Michigan; Alexis Faley of Port Huron, Michigan; Luke and Rex Faley of Tubac, Arizona; Dallas, Riley and Grayson Harvey of Van Nuys, California.
She is survived by her brother Harold Traughber of Cedar Hill, Tennessee. She is also survived by sisters Marjorie Carney of Benton, Kentucky; Christine Traughber of Springfield, Tennessee. She was predeceased by sisters Elsie Traughber in 1930, Mary Traughber in 1939, Lucy Burns in 1974, Ellen Gilbert in 2005, Nora Garcia in 2006 and Carolyn Fox in 2012. She was also predeceased by brothers Gene Traughber in 1979, Ed Traughber in 1981, Freeman Traughber in 1982, Rayburn Traughber in 1992 and Lawrence Traughber in 2012.
Arrangements were made by Gendernalik Funeral Home in New Baltimore, Michigan, and by Collier Funeral Home in Benton, Kentucky. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Aurora, Kentucky. Burial will be in St. Henry’s Cemetery, Aurora, Kentucky following the service. Friends may visit with the family between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and the service hour at 11:00 a.m. at St. Henry’s Catholic Church.