Mary Ann Travis

Some of us find fulfillment in our careers, our friends, or our faith. Mary Travis was a woman who was most fulfilled by her family, whose life was so enriched by those closest to her. She was deeply devoted to her family, as a part of something greater, yet always maintained her own special individuality. She loved to write letters to her family and friends, just notes to say hello, or she was thinking of them. Today her words echo in the hearts and minds of those who knew her, warmer than ever.

The year was 1941, and with the darkening clouds of conflict thundering in the distance, as it became clear our great nation would not be willing to sit idly by any longer as the forces of tyranny waged war. It was a time of many concerns in this country, many doubts, yet for one family in the little Midwest town of Marietta,

Ohio

, 1941 was a year full of happiness and renewed hope, that there was still beauty to be found in the world.

On September 11, 1941, on a warm, sunny Thursday in

Marietta

, the young couple of Eugene and Gladys Travis welcomed a beautiful baby daughter into the world, a little girl they named Mary. Mary, together with her sisters, Kay and Priscilla, filled the Travis home with lots of love and laughter. Mary was always especially close to her parents, and had a special bond with them from an early age.

When she was young the family packed up and moved from Marietta to the small farming community of

Allegan, Michigan

. She attended school there, and graduated from

Allegan

High School

in 1959. Being the bright, independent young woman she was, Mary began attending the Davenport College of Business in

Grand Rapids

after high school. She then headed out into the workforce, where she was a secretary for many companies over the years.

Mary worked at Lear Zieglar, Chematron, Hart & Cooley, and lastly, the Holland Life Savers plant. Always a devoted and loyal person, Mary stayed at the Life Savers plant for over 20 years.

After the plant closed, Mary filled her time nicely. She loved to travel, and had visited

Hawaii

, her favorite place on earth, at least four times. She also went places quite often with her girlfriends, usually shopping at the beautiful new malls in Muskegon or Grandville (Mary loved to shop), or to the river boats like the Delta Queen, which she appreciated so much for their beauty and history. Mary had many close friends, as well, and one of her best friends was Charlene Bender, a wonderful and long-time friend she did so much with. Mary was a wonderful friend to many.

Mary was unconditionally loyal to her friends and especially family, of course, and lived with her parents her whole life. They did much together, attended the

Methodist

Church

, or traveled around. Sadly, her mother died in 1988, and her father died in 1996, which was understandably hard on her. She loved her parents dearly, as she did her whole family. Mary was always thinking of family, and never forgot to send birthday cards to each of them. She also loved to write them letters, offering some words of encouragement or just to let them know she was thinking about them.

Of course, being the bright, independent and often political woman she was, she also wasn't shy about writing letters to those in government, either. She always kept up on current events, and wrote letters to the State and

U.S.

Representatives, sharing her ideas and just that she "thought they needed to know." She even wrote the President once.

He never responded, but it didn't matter to Mary. What mattered most to her was right here, close to her heart, her friends and family. Today her words, and her love, echo in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Mary Ann Travis, age 64, of

Holland

, MI. died at Butterworth March 3, 2006. She was born in

Marietta Ohio

. She was preceded in death by both of her parents Eugene and Gladys Travis. Her family includes: sisters Kay and Allan White of

Holland

, MI., Priscilla and Rod Overbeek of Allegan, MI.; and several aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at The Mulder Chapel Dykstra Life Story Funeral

188 west 32nd street Holland, MI

. Burial will be in

Restlawn

Cemetery

,

Holland

, MI. Visiting will be from 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, the hour before the services at the Mulder Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart association.