Mary Lenora Zilz, age 100, was called home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. Mary or “Monnie” (her Indian nickname) was born June 18, 1915 in Rosebush, Michigan to Obadiah and Jennie (Pelcher) Smith, and until her death was the oldest member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. Mary counted Jesus as her Savior for over sixty years and was a faithful witness of the gospel and a true prayer warrior. As a child Mary attended the Mt. Pleasant Indian School through ninth grade and graduated as valedictorian of her class. She then went on to Mt. Pleasant High School, graduating in 1933. After high school Mary worked at the Postem factory in Battle Creek in the summer of 1934, and it was there that she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Mullen, on a blind date. Mary and Bob were married in 1936 and were blessed with three children, Robert Jr. (Bobby), Mary Ann, and Nannette. During those years Mary worked for Oldsmobile on the assembly line producing airplane parts for the Air Force. She also attended the Melba Beauty School and received her license as a cosmetologist, which launched her new career working at the Harper Method Beauty Salon. Three years after Bob’s death in 1952 from a heart attack, Mary met and married Carl Zilz and they spent many happy years together fishing, and traveling to Florida. Mary was a business-woman, owning and operating several beauty salons in Lansing and that was her professional life from 1944 through 1974. Ever since 1982 Sebring, Florida was Mary’s second home during the winter months (which seemed to get longer and longer with each passing year). Mary also loved to travel throughout the United States, as well as her stays in Oklahoma and California while her first husband, Bob, was in the service. Even though she accomplished many things in her life and career, Mary would want her legacy to be that she was a born-again Christian, and to be remembered as our own personal prayer warrior. She loved her family dearly and so enjoyed being a part of everyone’s lives. We will miss her greatly and cherish our memories of Mom / Grandma / Great-Grandma / Great-Great-Grandma. Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann (Green), grandchildren Mark (Mary) Green, Julia Green, Martin (Ruth) Green, Michael (Rachel) Green, Risa (Ralph) Snider, Bill (Hope) Abbott, Bob (Mary) Abbott, Curtis Abbott, Daniel Abbott, step-daughter, Terri (John) Krupa and their children, Daymon Krupa, and Kristi Krupa, as well as her own tribe of great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert (Bob), son, Robert Jr. (“Bobby”), her daughter Nannette Jean (Abbott), second husband Carl Zilz, son-in-law Ralph Green, and siblings Gordon, Abraham, Arabella (“Mickey), and Maurice, as well as great-granddaughter, Amy, and great-grandson, Alexander. Viewing will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at First Baptist Church in St. Johns, and the funeral service following at 11:00 am with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Interment will be 3:00 pm Saturday at South Bingham Cemetery, at the corner of Taft and County Farm Road. The family will receive relatives and friends one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be made to Forgotten Man Ministries 3940 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 or The Lord’s Lighthouse PO Box 6015 Sun City Center, FL 33571. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.

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