Daisy Pollister

Daisy Bell (Toodie) Morrison Pollister , 90, of Elk Rapids, MI, died Tues. Dec. 15, 2015, at Kalkaska Eden Center. She was born on July 6, 1925 in the parlor of the family home on the farm at Yuba, Michigan. She was the first born of Peter Clyde Morrison and Daisy Bell Morrison. She and her four siblings all learned the value of hard work from their parents and they considered themselves lucky to have kept the family farm through the depression all while helping their neighbors and friends too. Toodie graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Education and returned home to work on the farm while her brothers were in the service. She never did leave to teach school.

On August 29, 1949 she married Edward Barker Pollister Jr. and they moved to the farmhouse on Elk Lake where they raised three children who also grew up learning the value of hard work and dedication on a farm. Daisy continued to work on the Morrison family farm along with her brothers Peter C Morrison Jr and Bruce Morrison and together they built one of the largest , most diversified farming operations in northern Michigan. That farm taught the value of hard work to many of the next generation in the family.

When the family business was sold in 2004 Toodie stayed and worked in the office for the new owners . She finally retired in 2008 at the age of 82.

Toodie was appointed to finish a term on the Elk Rapids School Board in 1962 and remained on the Board for 30 years, most of that time as it's President. She took great pride in her ability to help better the education system in Elk Rapids.

She was an avid reader and after her retirement she enjoyed reading a book in as little as two days with her cat perched on her lap for company.

Toodie is survived by her sister Barbara Kopkau of Yuba, her children Julia (Dorance) Amos of Elk Rapids; Edward (Gail) Pollister III of Everglades, Fla and Raymond ( Micki) Pollister of Elk Rapids, as well as grandchildren Nels ( Michelle) Veliquette of Victoria , BC; Chris ( Molly) Veliquette of Basel, Switzerland; Bruce Veliquette of Rapid City, Mi ; Aubyn Amos of Coer d'Alene, ID; Edward (Buck) ( Blair) Pollister IV of Logan, NM; Abe Pollister of Woodland Hills CA; Amanda Pollister of Acme, MI and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed who died in 1993, sister Isabel Defer, brothers Peter and Bruce and her parents.

The family would like to extend their most sincere appreciation to the staff at the Eden Center Unit at Kalkaska Memorial Hospital . They provided her with more than just excellent care, they genuinely loved her as much as she loved them.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday December 22nd at the Historical Elk Rapids Town Hall at 401 River Street in Elk Rapids. Visitation with the family will be an hour before and an hour after the services. Those wishing to make a contribution in her memory are asked to consider the Elk Rapids District Library, PO Box 337 , Elk Rapids MI 49629.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Home. Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com