Mildred "Tootsie" June Allen

Mildred June Allen, know as "Tootsie," was born September 22, 1920, in Charlevoix, Michigan, to Joseph Foster Otto and Christine Baker. Tootsie was an Ojibwa and was once a long time member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indians of Michigan.

Tootsie spent her early years in Petoskey, where she married Francis Peters after graduating high school. Tootsie became an artist and craftswoman who practiced traditional Native American crafts. Following her father's footsteps as a tailor, she provided services for many as a seamstress by making gowns, suits, costumes, and alterations.

After leaving Petoskey for Detroit, Tootsie eventually worked for the main post office where she met her husband Clarence. Eventually they both transferred to the Oak Park, Michigan branch to be closer to their home. Tootsie was a woman of many talents and sold her crafts including ceramics, beadwork, dolls, glass work, baking and clothing. She even helped to organize a local art fair in Ferndale, Michigan.

Tootsie was a joy to be around and loved socializing. She enjoyed throwing parties for friends and family, playing games like cribbage, boggle, scrabble and she absolutely loved crossword and word find puzzles. If Tootsie was in the room, you could be sure that everybody was smiling.

Tootsie, a long time resident of Metro Detroit, Michigan, transitioned on November 9, 2017, at the age of 97 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Her final resting place will be at St. Francis Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest along with her husband, Clarence H. Allen, Jr. (1998); daughter, Joanne Peters; and parents, Joseph Foster Otto and Christine Baker. Granddaughters, Angela Kearney and Adeanna Sexton and siblings, Josephine "Odie", Simon Otto, Hermes Otto, Ethel "Doe", and Mary Deguvera also preceded her in walk on.

Services are pending at this time and will be announced shortly.

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