Mary Anne Garst, 80 / Dec. 25, 1930 — Sept. 8, 2011

Published 9:35 pm Thursday, September 22, 2011

Mary Anne Garst, 80
Dec. 25, 1930 — Sept. 8, 2011

Mary Anne Vail Garst, 80, passed away peacefully with her family by her side Sept. 8, 2011.

Garst

She was born Dec. 25, 1930 to Mildred and Jim Vail. She lived most of her life in Niles, where she graduated from Niles High School in 1948. She studied speech and language pathology at Michigan State University for three years.
She married Roger Garst on Oct. 21, 1951 at First Presbyterian Church in Niles. The couple moved to a naval base in Florida, where Roger was served a four-year term of service. They had a son, Cameron, and returned to Michigan to graduate together from Western Michigan University. Mary Anne had their second child, a daughter, Tracy.
The couple settled in Grand Rapids, Mich. Mary Anne was a teacher for 30 years in Grand Rapids Public Schools as a speech and language pathologist.
She is survived by her husband, Roger; children, son, Cameron (Lori) Garst of Traverse City, Mich. and daughter, Tracy (Charlie) Flanders; grandchildren, Megan (Johnny) Barlow of Atlanta, Ga. and Rebecca and Timothy Flanders of Grand Rapids.
Mary Anne suffered from pulmonary fibrosis for the last few years, with oxygen 24/7. She celebrated her 80th birthday on Christmas Day 2010.
An informal gathering will be held Sept. 25, 2011 at 11:45 a.m. at Second Congregational Church UCC, 525 Cheshire N.E., Grand Rapids.
Cremation has taken place, according to Mary Anne’s wishes.
She will be interred at Second Congregational.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Anne Garst’s name to Crash’s Landing (a no-kill animal rescue home), 1545 Diamond Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49505.
Condolences may be expressed online at http://memorialalternatives.com/html/sympathy.html.