Unis E. Southwell

Unis E. Southwell

Died February 24, 2016

SUTTONS BAY - Unis Engle Southwell, 90, of Suttons Bay, died peacefully Wednesday, February 24, under the caring staff at Effie's Assisted Living in Leland.  Unis was born March 29, 1925 in Lansing, MI, the daughter of Bruce and Eva (Towers) Engle.  In 1940, through a church youthgroup exchange gathering, she met Langdon Southwell, striking up a friendship that would lead to their 1947 marriage in Portland, MI and 64 years as best friends until Lang's death June 16, 2012.

  While Unis awaited Lang's return from WW II, she attended Michigan State University as a Home Economics major, with a focus on decorative home arts.  Between their first home in Portland and then 27 years in Muskegon where they raised their family, Unis found many forms of self-expression to enrich her family's home. She enjoyed collecting, refurbishing and refinishing antiques, recycling woolen goods into braided rugs, sewing, cross stitch, creating pinecone wreaths, gardening and reading.

  In the late 70's Unis discovered her real passion - quilting.  She joined volunteers at the

Muskegon Rescue Mission, making machine pieced, tied quilts for fund raising, then taught

herself how to hand quilt and was proficient at it before she and Lang moved to Suttons Bay in 1982.

  Unis became well known to area quilters as she continued exploring quilting by attending

numerous workshops, teaching, joining quilt groups, donating nine quilts for fundraising through the Northport Hospital Auxiliary and receiving multiple awards nationally for her fine workmanship.  Quilting gave Unis an opportunity for personal growth and lifetime friends.  She once said that it was the glue that held her life together and made every day a pleasure.

  Unis and Lang are survived by their three children, Amy (Ted) Peterson of Glen Arbor, Jane (Dan) Ecclestone of Cedar, and Clark (Mary) Southwell of Suttons Bay; four grandchildren, Laurel and Sarah Chapman, Anna (Tracy) Southwell Forton, Leland (Jessica) Southwell; one great-grandchild, Ella Grace Forton; brother, Robert Engle; and sister, Molly (Dick) Remsberg.

  A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, P.O. Box 340, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or The National Quilt Museum, 215 Jefferson St., Paducah, KY 42001 and/or MSU Museum: Michigan Quilt Project, 409 West Circle Dr., East Lansing, MI 48824.

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