Marie Ranney

P. Marie Ranney of Belding (formerly of Edmore and Alamo, TX) passed away surrounded by family at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids on January 9, 2020. Marie was born May 22, 1919 in Marion, MI to J. Atlee and Nina (Kipp) Gould.

She married Cary “Bill” Ranney on November 8, 1945 in Alma. Their marriage was delayed while Bill served in the Army and Marie worked at the Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti during World War II.

Marie graduated from Marion High School in 1936.  She worked at a number of jobs, including raising capon chickens and working as a timekeeper at Ore-Ida in Greenville. She was a dedicated homemaker with a wide variety of interests – cake decorating, tending her rose garden, crocheting hundreds of afghans, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, playing Euchre, and reading.  Marie was a strong supporter of school activities her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were involved in, especially her role as a band parent.

In retirement Marie became a world traveler with many memorable experiences including being baptized in the Jordan River and white-water rafting in Alaska.

When people asked Marie her “recipe” for a long life, she didn’t hesitate to tell them that during her 25+ years of retirement in Texas she rose early in the cool of the day and walked vigorously for a mile or two around the mobile home park.

Surviving are her children, Robert & Linda Ranney of Belding, Nancy & Christopher “Lee” Gerovac of Coleman, and Rex & Dorothy Ranney of Edmore; Grandchildren Michelle Gerovac (fiance Mark Martin), Thomas Ranney, Sarah Ranney, Phillip (Krista) Schnicke, and Jonathan (Cathy) Schnicke; Great-grandchildren Kylie, Cameron, Elizabeth, Stacee, Tayler, Isaac, Lauren, Julia and Aaron and Great-great-grandchildren Parker, Wyatt, Gray, Talen, Aiden and Logan.  She is also survived by a brother, Max Gould of Marion, sisters-in-law Dorothy Gould Lager and Nancy Gould, many nieces and nephews and a very special friend, Virginia Lay.  Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill (in 1988) and six brothers, Donald, Ray, Glen,, Carl, Olin and Leo.

Visitation will be Monday, January 13 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Johnson Feuerstein Funeral Home, 203 S. Pleasant St., Belding. Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 14 at 11 am at Smyrna Bible Church, 4864 Whites Bridge Rd., Belding with pastor Mike Simmons officiating. Visitation will also be one hour before the funeral at church. Interment  will be in the Spring at McBride Cemetery Memorial contributions may be made to Renucci Hospitality House or Alva Belding Library (children’s books). 

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