Mary L. Bush

Mary, of Farmington Hills, formerly of Farmington, a longtime Farmington community leader, passed peacefully into eternal life early Tuesday morning, January 10, 2023. She was 69 years old.
Mary was born February 2, 1953, in Pontiac, MI, to the late Harvey and Berdena Kathlyn "Tip" (Schram) Bush.
Mary had three anchors in her life in which with friends and acquaintances she celebrated the joys of faith, hard work, and lifelong camaraderie. Whether it was her precious faith community at Salem, her tenure and work on the Farmington City Council or her career as a successful Realtor, Mary gave 100 percent of herself.
In was in these three major areas of her life that Mary devoted her generous spirit and personality. In her lifelong Farmington community, it has been said that one knew immediately if Mary was in the building simply by the sound of her laughter.
She carried that laughter, inquisitiveness and welcoming personality, whether sharing her faith at Salem United Church of Christ, often with others she had known her whole life. It was at Salem that Mary found her strength. Nothing could stop Mary from attending services, a highlight of each week and where she found opportunities to stay in touch with friends.
Her tenure on the Farmington City Council put her in a position to help improve the community she wholly loved and would never consider leaving to live elsewhere. The city council gave her the opportunity to show her inherent leadership skills and to join any effort to improve the community. In her local political career, Mary maintained her optimism, welcoming personality and generosity of spirit, even if she disagreed with colleagues or community members. During her tenure, she served as mayor, as well as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
When she decided to retire from the city council in the 2000s, it didn't take long for community leaders to find new opportunities for Mary, including serving on the Farmington Community Library Board of Trustees.
Mary's career in real estate began when she worked in high school as a receptionist at the former Thompson-Brown Co. It was there she earned her real estate license and enjoyed a decades-long, prosperous career in local real estate.
May her kind and generous soul rest in peace.
Surviving are four siblings, Susan (Emily Humphreys) Bush, Jane Bush, John (Diane) Bush, and Becky (Dave) Rauser; nephew, Ryan Bush; niece, Maranda (Michael) Johnson; "honorary sisters", Pam Tyler and Sally Davis; and a host of former colleagues and friends. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by a sister, Kay (Ed Langois) Bush.
Family and friends may gather for visitation at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon, January 12, from 1-3 pm.
Mary's funeral ceremony is planned for Friday morning, January 13, at 10:30 am, also at Heeney-Sundquist. Click HERE to view a recording of Mary's funeral ceremony.
Private interment will follow at Farmington's historic Oakwood Cemetery.
Memorial tributes are suggested to the Xemplar Club of Farmington & Farmington Hills, or C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills.
Kindly keep Mary and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.