Mary Lou Multer Hooker

Mary Lou (Gilden) Multer Hooker, age 93 of Wayland, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She was born November 7, 1932, to Florence (Pfeifer) Gilden and Albert Gilden at home on the family farm near Scott’s Crossing, Ohio. She graduated from Elida High School in 1950 and moved to Gun Lake, Michigan, a few weeks later to help on the family farm. In 1954, she married Harry Multer, and together they built the home she lived in until her passing.

Mary Lou worked in the Wayland school system as a paraprofessional, devoted to helping elementary children read. A true Ohio State Buckeye fan, she never adopted any Michigan teams except for the Tigers. She was a State of Michigan Master Gardener, loved to mushroom hunt in the woods surrounding her home, volunteered with the United Church of Wayland, joined in national bird counting events, and enjoyed everything nature. She and her first husband, Harry Multer, raised strawberries for the local community.

Preceding her in death include her parents; first husband, Harry Multer; brother, Warren; second husband, Halden Hooker; infant great-granddaughter, Allyson Leggett; step-grandson, Jim Hooker; and stepson, Tom Hooker.

She is survived by her daughter, Joy (Jim) Rybicki of Wayland; granddaughter, Anna (Mike) Wierenga, and great-grandchildren Mahala, Robert, and Leah Wierenga; granddaughter, Mary (Jamie) Leggett, and great-grandchildren Evelyn and Victoria Leggett; granddaughter, Laura (Ted) Fisher, and great-grandchildren Jolene, Charles, and David Fisher; grandson, James Rybicki (Pakou Vang); son, Nelson (Diana) Multer of Plainwell; granddaughter, Sarah (Nate) Voss, and great-grandchildren Nora and Wyatt Voss; granddaughter, Lisa (Josh) Vyverman, and great-grandchildren Avery, Paige, Harlow, and Oliver Vyverman; grandson, John (Gloria), and great-grandchildren Mya and Chloe Multer; daughter, Laurie (John) Edge, and granddaughters Catie and Ellie Edge of Anchorage, Alaska. Also surviving are her niece, Kerrie (Gilden) Harrison, and nephew, Jerry Gilden, and his family, all of Ohio; stepchildren Ardie Hooker and Ted (Lynette) Hooker, and several stepchildren and step-grandchildren from her second marriage.

Donations in Mary Lou’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.kubiakcookwayland.com in their guestbook online.