Obituaries

of Ann Arbor, Michigan, age 73, passed away November 29, 2023, at Chelsea Retirement Community Towsley Village Memory Care under the care of Arbor Hospice. She will be missed by many.

The angels picked her up and took her to her forever home with the Lord and departed family and friends forever.

She was born July 27, 1950, in Bethesda, Maryland, the daughter of William “Edward” & Barbara (Powell) Thompson.

Marie graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1968, then attended Towson State College. After college she moved to Michigan and continued her education at Eastern Michigan University.

Marie was very active with the Washtenaw County Homebuilders Association. And she enjoyed traveling (including Europe, Canada, and the US).

On Feb. 14, 1981, she married her beloved husband Greg at the First Congregational Church, Douglas Memorial Chapel in Ann Arbor. She was raised in the Episcopalian church and attended the First Congregational church in Ann Arbor.

She found her calling in sales. The homebuilding community interested her. She started selling at Pella Window and Door Company and then moved on to home appliance sales at Big George’s Home Appliances in Ann Arbor, Walter’s Home Appliances in Brighton and finally a home at Heydlauff’s Appliances and Electronics in Chelsea. Her Kindness, helpful and detailed knowledge of products were her trademarks.

She loved working with her customers, and they loved her back. Many of them became friends.

She held many positions with the Washtenaw County Homebuilders Association - now known as Builders & Remodels Association of Greater Ann Arbor- BRAG.

Her mom and dad met in England during World War II and married there. He was from Maryland and she was English.

Marie had an outgoing personality, a great smile, and also a big heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sister-in-law who are all buried at Arlington National Cemetery. She donated grave wreaths yearly at Christmas time to Wreaths Across America for Arlington National Cemetery. She is also preceded in death by her loving uncles, Don from Canada, Len from the US; aunts, Iris from the UK, Pam from the US, and Tommi from Canada; cousin, Larry from Canada; and brother-in-law, Steve from the US.

In addition to her husband Greg, she is survived by nieces, Betty Ann (Peter) Johnson of Maryland, and Hannah Barnsdale of Michigan; nephew, David (Cheryl) Johnson of New Hampshire; dear grandniece, Madelyne Weimer-Barnsdale of Michigan; special cousins, Donna (David) Able of Ontario, Allan (Diane) Roden of Indiana, Neal (Su) Cartwright, Lynn (Mike) Cartwright, Wendy (Alan) Vickers, Geoff (Kim) Peters, and Barry Peters in the UK, Sally Jo (George) Siterlet of Michigan, Dave (Sharon) Barnsdale of Wisconsin, Charles (Janine) Happy, Dale (Connie) Happy, Gale (Brenda) Happy, Keith (Janet) Happy, and Dennis (Lisa) Happy all of Michigan; sisters-in-law, Susan (Barry) Austin of Arizona, and Janet McGinty of Colorado; brothers -in- law, Ron (Margi) Barnsdale of Michigan, and Larry (Sharon) Barnsdale of Florida; and special uncle John in the UK.

She had special classmates that she never forgot, Jane Farfan, Ken Watkins, and Bob Teague all of Maryland, and Caroline Winchester of Nebraska.

Marie never liked funerals, so none is planned. A celebration of life will be held in the future. She came into this world quietly- until the doctor slapped her on the bottom. That is the way she wanted to leave - quietly.

Cremation has taken place. Her final resting place will be in Virginia. If you want to donate in Marie’s memory, please consider BRAG of Ann Arbor Student Scholarship Fund, 179 Little Lake Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or a charity of your choice.

Her brain was donated to the Michigan Brain Bank for dementia research, which claimed her life.

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