Mary Alice Rodriguez
Mary Alice Rodriguez, 91, of Grand Ledge and formerly Vermontville and Gun Lake, Michigan, died peacefully with her family by her side on May 10, 2025. Mary was born in Vermontville and spent most of her early life there, enjoying small town life and the simple things. John and Mary moved to Gun Lake and spent 34 years together there. She turned her small-town life toward three important things: family, cooking, and gardening. As a mother of four boys, she had to be very organized, keeping life at home and the books running very smoothly for Johnny’s Food Mart in Vermontville. She was a self-less, humble woman enjoying lots of outdoor activities like horseback riding, snowmobiling, and laying in the sun at Gun Lake reading her books. A fabulous cook, Mary enjoyed canning from her garden, so she always had homemade foods, and baking including glazed donuts, strawberry rhubarb pie, peanut butter fudge, homemade bread, and a red velvet cake that kept everyone coming back for more.
With her organization skills, Mary was a wonderful bookkeeper. She kept the books for the family store, Johnny’s Food Mart in Vermontville, as well as J&R Party Mart, International Lock and Seal, and also worked for H&R Block in Charlotte during her working career. She demonstrated her love through the quilts she made for her family and special friends, baked goods, and gardening.
Mary is survived by her husband of 72 years, John Rodriguez; children, Fred (Lela) Rodriguez, Randy (Lori) Rodriguez, Doug (Christi Escher) Rodriguez; and Greg (Dionna) Rodriguez; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Ava May (Tubbs) Kroger; and sister, Marilyn Halas.
Friends are encouraged to support Mary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Monday, May 19, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home. Memorial services are Tuesday, May 20, 11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Dan Beyer officiating. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Mary’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions Gun Lake Community Church. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.