Faye Ellen Mapley

Faye was the beloved daughter of the late Gayle and Harriett Thomas.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She cherished her family and is survived by her husband of 66 years Carl Mapley; children Susan (Tim) Moser, Sheryl Palmer, Karen (Jon) Van Eck, David Grant Mapley, Esquire; grandchildren Tim (Elena) Mapley, Laura Moser, Kaitlin Moser, Robby (Megan) Moser, Forrest Van Eck, Hunter Van Eck, Connor Van Eck, Ireland Van Eck; and Great Grandchildren Miles Moser and Archer Mapley.

Faye was a Master Gardener and enjoyed tending to her beautiful gardens. She had an innate passion for the outdoors and enjoyed watching the birds, deer, turkeys, and other wildlife that visited her yard daily. She was a phenomenal cook and shared her bread baking, cookies, fruit jello, and her love of new recipes with her family and friends.

Faye graduated from Waterford Township High School class of 1955 and attended Michigan State University. She worked for 25 years as a Program Director at West Bloomfield Community Education Department. She was a member of the National Association for Community Education Directors and earned recognition as a Mott fellow studying at Eastern Michigan University.

After retirement, she loved to travel and Faye and Carl spent winters in Orange Harbor in Fort Myers, Florida for over two decades before Hurricane Ian wiped out their home and community. They had hoped to return to Florida this February, and they excitedly planned a return trip. Faye and Carl also spent a good part of their summertime at their cottage on the Au Sable River in Oscoda, Michigan where they would fish for salmon on their boat named “Windancer”.

The world will not be the same without her bright smile, sharp wit, kind voice, feisty disposition and giving heart. She will always be remembered for her empathic understanding of her fellow human beings.

A Celebration of Life is planned for February 17th at Orchard Lake Community Church, 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake Michigan, 48324. Family will greet friends from 1-2p with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 2p. For those unable to attend, Faye’s service will be live streamed at OLCCP.com, by clicking on the "watch live & past video" tab.