Alice Mary Annis

On February 11, 2025, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Alice Mary (Heath) Annis slipped away peacefully into Eternity while her beloved family kept vigil by her side. 

Alice Mary, born on April 2, 1929 to Cecil D and Exilda (Foisie) Heath, the oldest to round out a hardworking family. As a young girl, Alice Mary was fond of swimming and in a pool so often, she almost made the Olympic swim team. She carried this love for the water throughout her long life. 

After meeting her great love James Annis while in High School, she graduated prior to their wedding on August 21, 1948 just as she promised her parents. Alice Mary and Jim went on to have 5 children, she leading the charge at home, he working hard as a well-respected and sought after Snap-On salesman. Living for a time in the Upper Peninsula, with Jim traveling for work, Alice Mary indulged in her favored past-time: Bridge. She and her friends would often get so engrossed in games that one time they even missed a casting call to be extras in a movie in favor of cards. 

Once the kids were grown, Alice Mary kept herself busy caring for a new batch of youngsters and adults alike as lunch room manager at St. Monica’s school. With her fondness for cooking and sneakily nutritious recipes, she filled hungry bellies with delicious delights and hearts with joy and laughter. All the parent volunteers clamored to get on Alice Mary’s team. 

Following Jim’s retirement, the couple traveled around the country in their trailer, landing wherever he could find a good game of golf and she had a place to walk and people to play cards with. Never one to keep work at bay, she would volunteer to be a campground host and welcome all the new campers, answering all their questions and organizing events. 

In 2003, they oversaw the building of their retirement home in Stanwood, MI, where they lived out their final years as a married couple, actively involving themselves in their new community. In January 2015, Alice Mary became a widow with the loss of Jim, her children and friends to buoy her spirits. Later that year, the family took a memorable trip to Italy, the source of many tales and laughter, memorialized by prized photos above her mantle where she could revisit in memory during the quieter times. 

Anyone who went to visit Alice Mary could expect EWTN to be playing on the TV, especially during the rosary. Never was a trip taken in any vehicle with Alice Mary that did not begin with praying the beads. 

In 2019, after some wooing at the Senior Center, Alice Mary became a blushing bride again at 90 when she wed Louis Gula at St. Michael’s. Their antics as a couple kept both sets of kids on their toes while being the source of newlywed joy between the two of them, particularly as the world shut down around them. Their house was filled with light, laughter, and endless parlor games. 

Alice Mary once again became a widow in 2021 after Lou gave up his time on Earth. Ever faithful, she is the inspiration for a lifetime of adventure and many renewed devotions to the rosary and Our Lady. She will be deeply missed. 

Alice Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, James Annis; her husband of 2 years, Louis Gula; her brothers Cecil L. and Douglas A Heath; Sister-in-law Barbara (Dugan) Heath; 

Left to carry on her legacy are her children: Veronica (Bob) Costie, Christine “Deena” Anderson, James (Sue) Annis Jr., Douglas Annis, and Mary Annis; Bonus children, Kristina (Bob) Beers, John 

McKay, and Jim (Mary) McKay; 9 Grandchildren and 10 Great-Grandchildren; Multiple bonus Grands and Great-Grands; Sister-in-Law, Mary Ellen Heath, and several nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends will be received at Evening Visitation, held at Adams Redmond Funeral Home in Kalamazoo on Sunday, Feb. 16th from 5:00 -7:00 PM with Rosary at 6:30 PM led by the Family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Monica’s, Kalamazoo, on Monday, February 17th at 11:00 AM, Fr. Russell Homic, Celebrant. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Michael’s, Remus, at a future date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Monica Catholic School, Kalamazoo or St. Michael the Archangel, Catholic School, Remus.