Obituaries

Ann M. Riley

Died Aug. 18, 2014

TRAVERSE CITY - Ann Marie (Mills) Riley, 73, died unexpectedly on August 18 in Traverse City.  Ann was born on June 17, 1941 to Thomas O. and Marjorie E. (Eddy) Mills in Plainwell, Michigan.

  She graduated from Plainwell High School in 1959 and then attended dental hygienist school at the University of Minnesota.  Over the years she worked as a dental hygienist, a bank teller, and an airline reservationist.
  For the last 45 years she grew and harvested cherries in Traverse City, Michigan.  Ann was one of the first women in many of her agriculture and orchard courses.  She thrived working in the cherry business with her husband of 34 years, Joseph A. Riley.
  Ann nurtured long term friendships with many of the young people who worked in the orchard and the many longtime customers who came back year after year.  Ann lived in Colorado for a time where she fell in love with the mountains, she spent about two year in the 1960’s traveling around the world in a VW bus, and she and Joe enjoyed many winter months in Florida and Arizona.
  Ann loved to garden with a passion she learned from her mother, and worked with an industry and focus that she learned from her father.  Ann was a crafter, baker of pies and seamstress extraordinaire.
  Ann is survived by her husband, Joe, her brother Thomas J. Mills (Daria), and two daughters, Julie Keil (David) and Shelly Howland (Donald), plus several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces.
  She is preceded in death by her parents.  Ann will be buried in the East Martin cemetery near her parents and five generations of her ancestors.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Traverse City Salvation Army, 1239 Barlow St, Traverse City, MI 49686, or the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, 6686 South Center Highway, Traverse City, MI 49684.
  Please share memories with Ann’s family online at www.martinson.info.   
  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

Location, Date and Time:

Ann’s graveside service will be on Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 PM.

It will be at the East Martin Cemetery, with Rev. Dan Minor officiating.
After the service, everyone is invited to the home of Jennifer (Mills) Harrison on the farm which has been in the family since 1862.
Directions to the East Martin Cemetery and Jennifer’s home are listed below.
Directions to East Martin Cemetery and to Mills Farm
To East Martin Cemetery:

From US-131 take Exit 55 – Martin

Turn East on Allegan Ave. toward Martin.

Go past 4 corners at Martin and continue East on Allegan Ave.

Approx. 1 mile past the Martin four corners light, turn Left (North) on 8^th St.  This is the first major intersection after leaving the town of Martin.

Cemetery is ½ mile on 8^th street, right side of road.

To Jennifer Harrison’s home from the cemetery:

From East Martin Cemetery to 1424 123^rd Ave., Hopkins, MI

Turn Right out of cemetery heading North on 8^th street for 1 ½ miles.

Turn Left (West) on 120^th Avenue for 1 mile.

Turn Right (North) onto 10^th St. (Old 131) for 2 miles.

Turn Left (West) onto 124^th Ave for 2 miles – go over the freeway and road will turn to gravel.

Turn Left (South) onto 14^th St. for ½ mile.

Turn Right (West) onto 123^rd Ave.

House (white farmhouse with red barn) is 1^st house on Left – can be seen from corner.