On a beautiful Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, Maeta “Mae” Margaret Julison, 84, passed on from natural causes, to be with family and friends she dearly missed. She was born Jan. 15, 1924, to Fred and Elise Buchholtz, in Chicago. Mae was the oldest of two daughters born to her parents.
She married her first love, Frank Schwolow, in 1944. Their union produced two sons, David and Michael. Mae worked as a switchboard operator for Varian Telephone Company for many years and other companies doing the same type of work. She was widowed in 1970. Mae spent a lot of years traveling adventurously once her children were grown. In her youth, Mae had red hair and a personality to match it, along with a big heart.
Mae moved to Whidbey Island in 1986 with her son, Michael, and his family. She later married Walter Julison, her last love, who preceded her in death. Mae was an Auxiliary Member at the VFW and served for over 25 years assisting where needed. She moved to the Summerhill Assisted Living Community in 2006. Mae worked as a volunteer doing correspondence for birthdays and holidays. She enjoyed attending church and Bible study with her friends. Mae took in a cat from a fellow resident and she enjoyed the companionship of Corky when family and friends were not around.
Mae was preceded in death by her husbands, a grandson, and a great-grandson. She is survived by her sister, Marie (Frank) McHugh, of California; sons, David Schwolow, Arkansas, and Michael (Cookie) Schwolow, Oak Harbor; grandchildren, Lance Schwolow, Oak Harbor, Tina (Chuck) Hurt, Washington, Dealiah (John) Johnson, Idaho, Paula (Travis) Aldous, Idaho, Ethan (Angela) Schorr, Nevada, and Crystal Schwolow, Arkansas.
Mae was known as Great Gran to Collis, Brennan, Ian, Rylie, Lacey, Tanner, Shelbey, Casey, Kaeli, Jeremiah, Madison, Nathaniel and Quade. All of whom will not know what to do when they do not get a crisp $1 bill for every holiday and the crisp $5 bill for their birthdays. Gran never forgot special days.
A celebration gathering is to be held at Summerhill Assisted Living on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. for family and friends. Mae requested that in lieu of flowers she would like donations to be made to support cancer research. Her ashes will be interred at the VFW Cemetery in Tahoma with her beloved Wally per her wishes.
