Marie Barends Town, 91, of Elmira, MI (formerly Dryden, MI) passed away peacefully at Blossom Springs Memory Care in Oakland Township, Michigan on March 29, 2022 just two weeks after she celebrated her 91st birthday with her family. Her son, Todd; husband, Russ; and her mother were waiting for her with open arms!
Marie was born in Hazel Park, MI on her mom’s kitchen table! When Marie was just seven years old she and her mother visited her mother’s homeland of Holland in 1938 and they had to quickly leave by boat to come home as the beginning of WWII was a danger in Europe. Marie was an only child and spent much of her youth taking care of her ill mother who died when Marie was young. She was a strong, independent working woman in the 1950s and became the secretary of the President of Barton Malow; she later left to start her family. She met Evan Russell Town (aka Russ) at church and they married in Detroit, MI on December 9, 1960 and had three sons; Kevin, Todd and Terry. They moved from Warren to Dryden and eventually Elmira, MI. She was a wonderful mother, wife, friend and grandma! She loved telling stories of her youth and Dutch family history, playing Sequence with her family six thousand times (LOL), spinning wool, volunteering for charities such as collecting aluminum can tabs and selling to raise money for the local shelter, and donating her stamp collection for vets to look at. She helped at Habitat for Humanity, and her favorite, the Lighthouse Community Pantry in Mancelona, MI. Marie loved animals, especially sheep; being involved in the Dryden 4-H club as treasurer of the auction; and being a Cub Scout den mother. Along with traveling with Russ and her boys on ski trips and more, she sang in many choirs and most recently she loved her community of Lakes of the North these last 32 years and being involved in everything there! She was a strong woman, fierce Christian, her faith was unwavering and she took her Bible everywhere! She loved when her family visited Lakes of the North and swam in their pool, watching Game Show Network endlessly and many movies with her kids. She was even loved at the place she has called home for the last year – Blossom Springs. She is now pain free, has her memory back and is reunited with her loved ones! We hope she is already singing with some of her Sweet Adeline chorus friends, eating ice cream with Todd, enjoying bags and bags of horehound old fashioned candies with Russ, hugging sheep, spinning wool, playing cards and doing never ending water aerobics! Marie lived a wonderful long life and will be missed greatly.
She is survived by her two sons, Kevin (Mary) Town and Terry (Stacey)Town; her daughter-in-law, Deborah Town; sister-in-law, Karna; her grandkids, Jessica (Jason) James, Megan Bass, Clayton (Brittney) Town, Wesley Town, Erica Town, Kalyn Town, Austin Town, Natalie Town and Benjamin Town; nine great-grandchildren with one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ; and her son, Todd.
There will be a memorial for Marie in the future.
Cremation will take place and has been entrusted to Muir Brothers Funeral Home at 225 Main St., Imlay City, MI.
Please be sure to sign the online register at muirbrothersfh.com to share condolences and memories with the Town family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Marie’s name can be made to the place dearest to her heart, the Lighthouse Community Pantry at 430 W. State St., Mancelona, MI 49659.
