Mary Willson

Mary Angela Willson, beloved wife of William J. Foley, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, March 8, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 8, 1953 to Elma Rita (O’Donnell) and Kenneth Lee Willson in San Bernardino, California.
Mary moved with her family to Bellaire, Michigan in 1964 and graduated from Bellaire High School in 1972.  She had two sons, Christopher and Jeremy Van Sice. She was so proud of them and their creative efforts in establishing Bee Well Meadery in Bellaire.
Mary worked at the Antrim County Registrar of Deeds Office and for the Sheriff’s Dept, but worked the last 35 years at Community Mental Health, from which she retired.
GrandMary loved her grandchildren dearly...Jonah, Emma, Linus, and Connor...highlighted by Jonah’s Boy Scout camping trips and popcorn sales; Emma’s tea parties and basketball games; Linus tenderly covering her with soft, warm blankets and curling up to watch movies; and daily FaceTime visits with Baby Connor.
Mary and her husband Bill enjoyed many adventures and misadventures, day trips and especially their travels to Stratford. They so loved seeing movies at the State Theater in Traverse City. Mary cherished her summers on Torch Lake, water-walking and reading books on the beach. She became known as the family’s champion berry-picker!  She was famous for her cinnamon rolls, her chocolate-covered cherries, and the various baked goods she sold at the Christmas Bazaar. Her nieces and nephews fought over her no-bake cookies.
Mary was a community volunteer, organizing and purchasing gifts year-round for the developmentally disabled Christmas Party. She was instrumental in bringing to the Traverse City area the Great Strides Walk, a Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser, and she was involved in Relay for Life.
Mary is survived by her husband of 20 years, Bill Foley; her sons, Christopher (Catherine) Van Sice and Jeremy (Liz) Van Sice; grandchildren, Jonah, Emma, Linus, and Connor Van Sice; brother, Timothy (Anita) Willson; sisters, Denise Jelinek, Deborah Fischer, and Kathleen (John) Maloney; and over 100 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Kenneth and James; her sister, Bonnie Lucas; brothers-in-law Keith Jelinek and Clyde Lucas; nephew, Michael Jelinek; and great nephew, Logan Fant.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2020, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm, at Mortensen Funeral Home in Bellaire. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Bellaire, on Saturday, March 14, 2020, 11:00am.  Private family interment will take place in Eldred Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Relay for Life.  The family wishes to give special thanks to Hospice of Grayling and Mortensen Funeral Home.

Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.