Mary Ann Durkee

Mary Ann Durkee, age 95, of Sebewaing, passed away October 23, 2011 while a resident of the Lutheran Home in Frankenmuth. Mary Ann Frei was born in 1916 to the late Joseph & Julia (Walters) Frei, on the family farm near Caseville. In her late teen years she moved to the Saginaw area and lived with her brother Frank. There she worked in a bakery, a manufacturing plant and as a seamstress for a clothing store. She did not drive at the time and rode the bus to many of the places she went. Her future husband, Robert Nelson Durkee, was a bus driver in Saginaw, and that is how they met. They married in 1946 in Chicago. She spent most of the rest of her life in Rose Island and Sebewaing. She worked many years for the Best Tackle Company assembling fish hooks. She also sewed and mended clothes for Kunisch Clothing, and until age 93 for many area residents. She loved fishing, especially on the fishing party boat named the Mary Ann that Captain Bob operated in the early 1960's. She also enjoyed bowling, playing cards and being with the many wonderful friends she had.

She is survived by three sons: Gaylor (Brenda) of Dandridge, TN, James of St. Petersburg, FL, and Richard (Julie) of Birch Run; one daughter: Shelia McKenna of Ortonville; two sisters: Helen Deering of Bay Port, Pauline Cherry of Homosassa Springs, FL, and many grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Robert after 33 years of marriage; son Robert M. Durkee (survived by his wife Isabel Durkee); brothers: Frank and George, and sisters: Anna Fischer and Martha Light.

The visitation will take place Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 2-9pm at Juengel-Mellendorf Funeral Home, 538 S. Beck St.(M-25), Sebewaing.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at Trinity United Methodist Church (on M-25) in Sebewaing. The visiting will begin at the church at 10am until the time of service at 11am.

The burial service will take place at Caseville Twp. Cemetery at 2pm with the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or the Lutheran Home-Frankenmuth.