Minnie Mary Zimmerman

Mary was born on February 12, 1925, in Owosso, Michigan to Byron Dale Wood and Maie Lucille Bittell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin D. Zimmerman, daughter Nancy Lee (John) Wilson, brother Lorraine “Larry” B. (Eunice) Wood, stepbrother Bruce (Joyce) Germaine, stepdaughter Patricia Mae (Tom) Spence, grandsons Donald Zimmerman and Aaron Zimmerman, and great-granddaughter, Cassandra Wilson. Mary is survived by her daughter Susan Coubrough Morris of North Las Vegas, NV; stepsons Harold (Judith) Zimmerman of Franklin, OH; Douglas Zimmerman of Waterford, MI and Steven (Linda) Zimmerman of Sanford, MI; as well as stepdaughters Margaret (Tom) Mikulskis of Waynesboro, TN; Jeanne Voltz of Brighton, MI and JoAnn Ogle of Lake City, FL. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.

The Second World War sidelined Mary’s planned university studies after high school when she began working and she had a long career as a bookkeeper. Her lifelong passion, though, was playing the piano. Her uncle was her first piano teacher when she was age 4. Later, she, her father and her uncle would form a mostly ragtime “band” and play at family and other community events. Her love of music continued throughout her advanced years, and her fingers were always playing a melody on whatever surface they happened to rest upon.

Mary worked selflessly to raise and support her two daughters alone at a time most women didn’t work. Despite many hardships, she was always good-natured, thoughtful and kind. Later, even with the thick fog of dementia clouding her mind, she remained loving and caring, never disagreeable. She was very much loved and will be greatly missed.

Her family is extensive and now resides at all four corners and throughout the country, so she chose to have no funeral service. Her ashes will be scattered by family at a later time. Those interested in making a donation in her memory may want to consider the Alzheimer’s Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Zimmerman family.