Mary Lou Angelotti

Mary Lou Angelotti
Mary Lou Angelotti passed away on March 11, 2025, in Midland.
She was born Mary Louise Masten on February 14, 1929 to Ralph and Olga Masten and was raised on her parents' farm near Paw Paw in Almena, Michigan. She was active in 4-H and was involved in numerous school activities while growing up and, as a senior at Paw Paw High School, served as editor of the yearbook. She graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1946 and was named valedictorian of her class. She then became the first woman to major in engineering at what was then known as Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo. She graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering then continued her studies at Michigan State, earning a Master's degree in chemistry in 1952.
After finishing her education Mary Lou began working as a chemist at Diamond Alkali in Painesville, Ohio, where she met her future husband, Nicholas C Angelotti. They were married on October 2, 1954 in Paw Paw. After the wedding Nick was drafted into the Army and was eventually stationed at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, where both Nick and Mary Lou worked as chemists.
After Nick finished his Army stint he took a job with Dow Corning and he and Mary Lou moved to Midland. There they raised their four children and Mary Lou became involved in numerous volunteer activities and organizations.
Mary Lou was a member of the Midland First United Methodist Church for over 60 years and, for many of those years, sang in the church's choir. She was a long-time member of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and served as state president of the AAUW during the early 1970's. She also enjoyed working at the AAUW Used Book Sale held twice a year at the Midland Mall.
She also served on many other boards and with other organizations, including the Midland Music Society and Midland Catholic Family Services. She was also one of the leaders who helped create Midland's Voluntary Action Center. Mary Lou lived by the adage "it's amazing how much you can accomplish if you don't worry about who gets the credit" and most of her hard work was behind the scenes. Right up until the time of her passing she served as a mentor to many in the community and elsewhere, in particular young women who benefited from learning from someone who had fought battles for years.
Her advocacy included several decades as a statewide leader advocating for gifted and talented education, including a lengthy tenure as state treasurer for the Michigan Association of Academically Talented. She was a leader in achieving many of the changes and expanded opportunities for students in the Midland Public Schools, particularly the ENDOW program, and served as editor of the Midland district's ENDOW newsletter.
Mary Lou did achieve unexpected recognition in 1987, during Michigan's Sesquicentennial, when she was among 150 women named as "First Ladies of Michigan", in honor of her work on behalf of expanding educational opportunities for gifted and talented students.
Mary Lou faced a number of health challenges with determination and good humor. She was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in February 1998 but, thanks to 2 ½ years of self-administered interferon injections and a shift to the newly approved wonder drug Gleevec, her disease went into complete remission. The family would like to thank the staff at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, in particular Dr. Harry Erba and physician's assistant Irene Ryan, for their outstanding care. The family also wants to thank Primrose Retirement Community and King's Daughters for their care of Mary Lou.
Mary Lou enjoyed many activities, including reading, cross stitch, travel, and watching her children and grandchildren participate in music and sports. She and Nick were able to travel extensively throughout the United States as well as to Europe, Australia, and East Asia.
Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents Ralph and Olga, by her brother Robert Masten and, in January 2004, by her husband Nick. She was also predeceased by her sisters-in-law Antoinetta Spinks, Marjorie Masten, and Shirley Angelotti and by her brothers-in-law James Spinks, Anthony Angelotti, and Theron Huffman. She is survived by her children, Linda Chatfield and her husband Tom of Littleton, Colorado, Steven Angelotti of East Lansing, Dr. Timothy Angelotti of Redwood City, California, and David Angelotti and his wife Sherri of Midland. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Huffman of Almena, by her sisters-in-law Marilyn Masten of Arcadia and Lana Angelotti of Toledo, and by three grandsons: Dominic Angelotti of Arlington, Virginia, Douglas Chatfield of Denver, and Michael Chatfield of Littleton, as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces, and great grandnephews.
Funeral services for Mary Lou will take place at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the Midland First United Methodist Church, 315 W Larkin Street, with internment to follow at New Calvary Cemetery. Her family will receive friends at Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street, on Monday, March 17, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the church from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the time of the service.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the AAUW of Midland, the Midland First United Methodist Church and the Midland Center for the Arts (specifically the Midland Symphony Orchestra).
All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Angelotti family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one.