Mary Louise Stiles

Mary Louise Stiles (Tyson Boersma) died of natural causes on March 20, 2020 in Grand Haven, Michigan. She was 93 years old. Mary was the daughter of Merton Thomas and Winifred Theresa (Cassell)Stiles. She was born at Blodgett Hospital, East Grand Rapids, MI on January 30, 1927.

Mary was the youngest of eight children, all of whom preceded her in death: Florence Stiles, Webster Stiles, Helen Stiles Donker, Winifred Stiles Gauthier, Merton Stiles, Elizabeth Stiles Rothwell, and William Stiles.

Mary graduated from South High School and attended Davenport College and Grand Rapids Junior College. After the birth of her fourth daughter, Kim, she returned to college in the 1970s, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BS in environmental science from Aquinas College.

Mary’s early work life included writing for the newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, serving as the Head of Personnel at Paul Steketee and Son’s department store at the downtown Grand Rapids location, and editing the Steketee’s newsletter. Mary retired after working for more than a decade at Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (now DTE) in the Energy Conservation Department.

Mary survived a rare form of melanoma cancer that affected her right eye and surrounding tissue. She was considered by doctors to be a medical miracle. Although life dealt her several serious challenges, Mary was a strong woman who most loved
being with her large family. She also enjoyed spending time with friends, traveling, listening to music, painting, antiquing, movies, playing bridge and other games, going to the beaches at Lake Michigan, and drinking Manhattans.

Mary was known for her wit, intelligence, beauty, love of fun, her artistic and personal style, and great personal strength, having raised four daughters largely on her own.

Mary is survived by her four daughters: Janet Stiles Tyson of Spring Lake, MI and Dorset, England (John Fulton; grandsons, John R. Fulton, Jr. and Conner Fulton of Spring Lake, MI); Carol Tyson Ward of Grand Rapids, MI (granddaughter, Diva Ward of Los Angeles, CA); Ellen Tyson Chiboucas of Spring Lake and Irvine, CA (James Chiboucas; grandsons: Christopher Chiboucas of Durango, CO, Michael Chiboucas of Los Angeles, CA, Steven Chiboucas (Aksinya) of Portland, OR,); and Kim Mary Alice (Boersma) Crozier (Bob Kleinheksel) of Spring Lake, MI.

A Gathering to Celebrate Mary’s life and legacy will be planned for a future date to be announced.

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