Mary Louise Gerding

Mary L. Gerding, age 78 of Owosso, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017 at Sparrow Health Systems in Lansing.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am Thursday, December 7, 2017 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 111 N. Howell St.  Family will receive friends at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, Jennings-Lyons Chapel Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm with the rosary being prayed at 7:00 pm.  Final rest will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly.Mary was born June 17, 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan, the daughter of Herbert and Margaret (Brady) Martin.  She graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in 1957.She married Douglas Gerding at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chesaning on October 29, 1960.She was the eldest of four children.  After meeting Doug their love for each other blossomed.  They eventually moved to Owosso where they raised their three children.  Mary was a homemaker most of her life.Mary graduated from Nu-Art School of Cosmetology.  She was a member of Red Hats, St. Paul's Altar Society, Herb Club and Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.  She volunteered for many years assisting students at Owosso High School Solid Ground Program.Mary and Doug loved to travel.  Over the years they were fortunate to enjoy travel to twelve European countries.  Their favorite trips were to Ireland and the Vatican in Rome, Italy.  Mary loved her many flower gardens and spending time with family and especially her grandchildren.  She had a passion for her flowers and used her talent to create flower arrangements.  Many of her special arrangements were gifts for friends, and others were sold at craft shows.  She loved to roam the open fields and woods and pick wild flowers, which most people would call weeds.  She would hang the items to dry and use them in her arrangements.Topping the list of her favorite things were her grandchildren.  She loved the Traverse City area, nature, sunsets, sunflowers, butterflies, and all her many flower gardens.She is survived by her husband Douglas Gerding; children: Julie Henderson-Walker (Mike) of Williamston, Susan Mary Byrd (Brindley) of Lansing, Scott Douglas Gerding (Michelle) of Perry; grandchildren: Emily, Meagan, Lauren, Julia, Ayden, Trysten and brother, Richard Martin.She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Barbara Schnell; brother, Michael Martin; father and mother-in-law, Ambrose and Anna Gerding.  Mary will be greatly missed by her husband and family.Memorial contributions given in Mary's name are suggested to St. Paul Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.  Online condolences may be sent to her family by going to www.watkinsfuneralhomes.com