As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Houghton: Barbara Martha (Rickwalt) Scally, 92, was born on July 10, 1932 and passed away on April 19, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Anthony Brogan Scally.
Barbara was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She and Anthony (Tony) met in high school, married young, and started their family in St. Clair Shores having three children: Michael, Patricia (Murley), and Thomas. The family moved to Rochester, Michigan where they built a home in 1966.
It was important to her and her husband to raise their children and enjoy solid family time. She was a stay at home mom, but volunteered at the local hospital and she was an Avon lady. Barbara was a seamstress and could knit sweaters for her family. She enjoyed cooking a family dinner every night. Barbara was a willing participant in painting and krafts of all kinds her whole life.
When Tony retired, they moved to Grand Traverse Bay where they enjoyed golf and swimming on the bay. She moved to Houghton by be by her daughter and son-in-law when Tony passed. Barbara enjoyed 16 years at the Bluffs Senior Community making new friends and keeping the old. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, always planning gifts and treating them saying “have dinner on papa and nana.” She received much kindness and empathy during her final year at Our Lady of Mercy Health and Rehabilitation in Hubbell.
She will be greatly missed. One of her most famous sayings was “everyone turns into a saint when they die.”
She is survived by a brother in law, Johnny Scally (Mary Ellen) and their children Lisa, Paul, and DeeDee and their families; her son Michael (Kathy) and grandson Michael, Jr.; daughter, Patricia (Richard) Murley and granddaughters Teal (Todd) Taylor, with great grandsons Henry and Benjamin, granddaughter Kit (Evan Henspeter) Murley-Henspeter) with great granddaughter Azalea and greatgrandson Wilson; son Thomas (Iris) and granddaughter Mayson; and her cousin Marlene Bridges and her sons Kenny, Keith, and Paul.
Family services will be held at a later time. The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
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