Mary Meyer

Mary LaVon Meyer, 87, of Holland, MI passed away on Sunday, December 29 after being in ill health for over a year. She died in her apartment at the Freedom Village Retirement Home; she had lived happily there for over a decade.

Mary was born February 22, 1937 in Grant, MI to Nellie and Burt Church. Her childhood was spent in the Frankfort, MI area and she graduated from Elberta High School in 1955. Mary earned her certification as a practical nurse in Traverse City, and worked in both the hospital and physician office settings in both the upper and lower peninsulas of our state.

In May, 1969 Mary and Hendrik Dosker Meyer married in Kalamazoo, MI; their meeting had been arranged by a mutual friend who correctly felt they would ‘hit it off.’ The result was a very happy marriage of 30 years. Mary and Hank had homes in both Kalamazoo and Vero Beach, Florida; after Hank’s passing in 1999 Mary continued to enjoy Vero Beach but decided to move back to Michigan. She owned a home in Holland but eventually retired to Freedom Village.

Mary enjoyed traveling with Hank throughout the U.S. and also Europe. She was a steadfast and generous friend to many over the course of her life, and relished visits to her many precious cousins as well as her friends. The Frankfort area was always important to Mary and she drove herself north from Holland often in her final years.

Mary was an avid reader and music lover; she enjoyed the theater and movies as well. Mary’s quiet humor and delightful laugh will be sorely missed by those who loved her. A memorial service for Mary will be conducted at Freedom Village on Saturday, January 11, at 11:00am. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be next to her dear Hank at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Professional service entrusted to the Dykstra Funeral Home - Downtown Chapel.