Mary Juanita (Porter) Emerick

Mary Emerick passed away the afternoon of February 7th, 2024, at her home with her family and hospice care team by her side.

Mary was born January 19, 1954, to William “Bill” and Minnie (Cummins) Porter in South Haven, Michigan. She was the fourth of their seven children. She grew up in the Bangor area on the Porter family’s blueberry farm. She attended Bangor Public Schools and was a 1972 graduate of Bangor High School.

Mary was a talented artist and loved drawing and painting. She couldn’t get enough of Bob Ross videos and painted several of his works. She also loved to crochet, sew, make quilts, baby blankets, and many stuffed animals for her grandchildren and friends. The thing that truly defined her was her great love for animals from her horses, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, and even hatched her own quails which she was very proud of. She loved farm life and took much joy in animal care and gardening. She loved her irises, rose bushes, hot pokers, and especially her kiwi plant. She went so far as to buy a “boyfriend” for her female kiwi last spring. Mary will be most remembered for being full of knowledge and fiercely stubborn. She was a force of nature and her family’s world will be less bright without her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Minnie Porter and three brothers, Bill, Ken and Doug Porter. She was also preceded most recently by her favorite cats, Hazel and Harry, and grand-dog Sparkle.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dan Emerick of Fennville, her daughter Mary Elizabeth Till and her partner James Vrablic of Peyton, Colorado; two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel and Erin Emerick of Allegan and Micheal and Angelica Emerick of Lake in the Hills, Illinois; her much loved six grandchildren, Aidan Till, Ianto Emerick, Newton Emerick, Sofie Emerick and twins Haylie and Kayden Emerick and her stubby legged hound dog Hera. 

Without a doubt she was welcomed to the other side by a herd of her beloved critters and is now basking in their love, purrs, barks and the whinnies of her much-loved horses. She’s riding high on a horse once again and is now free from the pain of recent years.

Mary’s visitation will be on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Chappell Funeral Home in Fennville, MI. Her funeral service will be on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 12:00pm with an hour of visitation beforehand from 11:00am – 12:00pm. Burial will take place at Pearl Cemetery following the service.

The family asks that perhaps in lieu of flowers that family and friends make donations in her memory to a local animal shelter or animal rescue organization. She would have taken in every animal that needed a home if she was able.

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