Mary Ann Arnold
Mary Ann Arnold – a proud mother and grandmother – mother of Eddy Arnold (Renee) and Amy King (Nelson) and Grandmother of Savannah and Joseph Owen and Isabella Arnold, Alivia and Jonathan King. Mary passed away on July 14, 2023, while surrounded by her family and her Eaton County Health Rehab Services family after a courageous eight-year battle with dementia and other health issues. Mary was 79 and was looking forward to her 80th birthday in October.
Mary Ann Hufnagel was born October 14, 1943, in Fowler, Michigan to the late Nick and Rose (Simon) Hufnagel. She was one of nine kids, five brothers and three sisters: Celeste (Fran) Heckman, Esther (John) Eiseler, Frank (Kay) Hufnagel, Clem (Marie) Hufnagel, Chuck (Marlene) Hufnagel, Tom (Nancy) Hufnagel, Helen (Ken) Hungerford and Jim (Carrie) Hufnagel. After she completed the 8th Grade, she went to work on the family farm. Through a mutual friend she met Wesley Lawrence Arnold. They were married on December 3, 1977, in Fowler, Michigan. Wesley and Mary welcomed their first child, a son, Eddy, in 1979 and welcomed a daughter, Amy Marie in 1981.
Mary worked at St. Lawrence Hospital for six years until her retirement in 1977. She took up her role as a housewife and also helped support her husband as he worked on the Arnold Brothers Farms. She helped out by taking prepared meals to the guys in the fields. Her children usually accompanied her to the fields and they always had a ride in the tractor once around the field with their dad before going home. Mary and Wesley had 33 years together until Wesley passed away in September 2010.
Mary will always be remembered by always making everyone laugh or smile. She had a wonderful personality and a kind and loving spirit. She always had a sucker in her mouth, she loved her candy and sweets, especially cherry pie and ice cream and of course her Diet Coke. Before Dementia started in 2016, Mary was always an avid bowler, she was on leagues in Charlotte, Lansing and Portland. She also hosted numerous hog roasts and snowmobile parties in the shack back in the woods on the farm that Wesley and his brother Lynn helped build. She also loved playing Bingo on Wednesday nights and bus trips to the casino with her sisters and friends. She was a big sports fan and was often found cheering on her favorite teams, she was a MSU, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers fan.
After Dementia changed the course of her life, her new hobby became coloring and giving her finished pictures to friends, family and caregivers. She always did a beautiful job. Mary had a very loving and caring caretakers.
First it was her daughter Amy in the earlier part of Dementia, then she was moved to ECHRS. COVID and lock down was hard on everyone, however, her daughter Amy visited her mom’s window with the Grandkids. She always enjoyed talking by the window during those visits. Mary was loved by all and will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Mary is survived by her son, Eddy Lynn (Renee) Arnold, and daughter Amy Marie (Nelson) King; grandchildren; Savannah, Joseph, Isabella, Alivia and Jonathan; sisters, Esther and Helen; brothers, Frank, Jim; sisters-in-law Marie and Carrie Hufnagel; brother-in-law, Earl Arnold; many nieces and nephews, including Greg (Darcy) Sivyer and Justin (Autumn) Sivyer. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Rose Hufnagel; in-laws Marney & Ethlyn Arnold; husband, Wesley Arnold; brothers-in-law, Fran Heckman, John Eiseler, Ken Hungerford, Delbert and Lynn Arnold; two brothers Tom and Clem Hufnagel; sister, Celeste; sisters-in-law, Kay and Nancy Hufnagel and Janis Arnold, Debbie Arnold Sivyer and Jennaline Arnold.
Friends are encouraged to support Mary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family received guests for visitation on Tuesday, July 18 at Pray Funeral Home. A funeral mass was celebrated Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Ledge. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Services in Charlotte. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.