Mary Ellen Rountree

In Loving Memory of

Mary Ellen Rountree

March 7, 1938 – July 5, 2026

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

Obituary

It is with profound sadness, yet with the hope and promise of eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Mary Ellen Rountree on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 9:53 p.m. Central Standard Time, while in Oklahoma with her youngest son. She was 88 years old.

Although our hearts are broken, we find peace in knowing that she has been reunited with the love of her life, Edward Rountree, and is now resting safely in the loving arms of Jesus Christ. We can only imagine the joy she experienced as she entered Heaven and saw her beloved husband waiting to welcome her home after years apart. What a glorious reunion that must have been.

Mary Ellen was born on March 7, 1938, in Romulus, Michigan, to Floyd Richardson and Clara Mae Miller Richardson. She was the oldest daughter and the middle child among five siblings: Floyd Richardson, Lewis Richardson, Peggy Taylor (Abner Taylor), and Carol Ann Richardson. From the very beginning, Mary’s life was centered around God. She was raised in church, where her faith took root and remained the foundation of her life for all 88 years.

One of Mary’s favorite childhood stories took place during the summers she spent on her grandmother’s farm in Milan, Michigan. Each year, she and her siblings stayed with Grandma Miller until just before school began. The children worked hard on the farm every day, but one summer, young Mary decided she had completed enough chores. She climbed high into a tree and hid while her grandmother called her name throughout the day. Just as Grandma Miller walked beneath the tree, the branch Mary was sitting on broke, sending her tumbling to the ground right in front of her grandmother. Grandma Miller looked at her and simply said, “That’s what you get!” Mary loved telling that story, and it was always followed by laughter.

From an early age, Mary demonstrated kindness, strength, determination, intelligence, and deep faith. She valued education and believed learning should never stop. Mary went on to become a nurse at St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles, and during her medical career, she also typed a medical textbook. Her work reflected her remarkable intelligence, attention to detail, and desire to serve others. She graduated from Fremont High School before attending Washtenaw Community College and Eastern Michigan University. While continuing her education, she worked as an Executive Secretary for General Motors. Her career with General Motors began in Labor Relations at the Willow Run Plant, continued at the Milford Proving Grounds, and eventually led her to become the Assistant Operational Manager of the General Motors Training Center in Burbank, California. After relocating to California, Mary continued her education by earning an Associate Degree from Los Angeles Pierce College. She later attended El Camino College in Gardena, where she focused on Medical Transcribing.

Later in life, Mary attended Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, along with her husband Edward Rountree where they earned another Associate Degree while deepening her biblical knowledge and strengthening her relationship with Christ. She eventually transitioned into the banking industry, working at Great Western Bank alongside her eldest daughter, Michele.

Mary’s greatest love story began long before she was old enough to fully understand it. At only nine years old, she saw a young boy named Edward Rountree and boldly declared that one day he would become her husband. Years later, after Edward returned home from serving in the military, he attended his father’s church, Reverend Rountree’s church. Mary was sitting in the back pew when she noticed Edward stand up. Thinking he was leaving, she was surprised when he walked over and sat right beside her. It was in that church that their beautiful love story truly began.

On November 30, 1955, in Toledo, Ohio, Mary married the love of her life, Edward Rountree. Together they shared 50 beautiful years of marriage, building a home rooted in faith, friendship, laughter, family, and unconditional love.

Mary and Edward enjoyed many adventures together. They spent time with members of the legendary musical group The Platters in Ladera Heights, California, rode along the California coastline as members of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle club, Detroit City Yacht Club in the 70’s, participated in classic car groups, attended car shows, and enjoyed taking rides in Edward’s classic automobiles. They also loved traveling across the country together with the family along historic Route 66. Wherever life took them, they traveled side by side.

Together they were blessed with four wonderful children:

Michele Hill (Dr. John Hill Jr.)

Miquel Rountree (Esther Rountree)

Monique Crenshaw

Marlu Rountree

Being a mother was one of Mary’s greatest joys, but becoming a grandmother made her heart even fuller. She was the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren:

Jeannine Mills

Dimitrique Crenshaw

Jacquin “Quin” Hill (Mariah Talamantes-Hill)

Enjoli Rountree (Jeff Walter)

Dana Rector (Steven Rector)

Felicia Lee (Kareem Lee)

Tiffany Hunsberger (Joshua Hunsberger)

Tamara Hill

To her grandchildren, she was lovingly known as Grandma. To her great-grandchildren, she was affectionately called Great GrandDolly,

Grandma, and Granny. These names reflected the warmth, joy, wisdom, and unconditional love she poured into every generation.

Mary loved celebrating birthdays, graduations, holidays, sporting events, school programs, family gatherings, and every accomplishment, whether large or small. Her greatest joy was watching each new generation grow. One of the family’s most treasured memories was receiving text messages from her. No matter what the message said, she often ended it with one simple and meaningful word:

“SMILE.”

She was the proud great-grandmother of 21:

London Hill, Xavier Hunsberger, Greyson Hunsberger, Landon Hunsberger, Ashton Hunsberger, Jasmine Lathan, Trey Mills, Akai Mills, Jewel Lofton, Kayden Lee, Tristen Lee, Skyler Lee, Dejanae Anguiano, Chloe Crenshaw, Owen Crenshaw, Monique Crenshaw, Dezalyn Covington, Caleb Covington, Joshua Covington, Aya Rector and Jaden Rector.

Mary was also blessed to be the cherished great-great-grandmother of 3: Isaiah Mills, Aaliyah Mills, and Remy Kai Anguiano.

Above everything else in Mary’s life was her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. She loved the Lord with all her heart. Every day began with prayer, Scripture, and thanksgiving. She faithfully prayed over her family and never missed an opportunity to encourage someone through God’s Word.

Many family members treasured their daily phone calls with Mary. They knew they would receive encouragement, wisdom, a favorite Bible verse, a heartfelt prayer, and sometimes a little loving preaching. Her greatest desire was for every member of her family to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Mary was a woman of strength, conviction, courage, and unwavering faith. She was feisty, fearless, and knew exactly what she wanted. Behind that strength was an incredibly compassionate heart that welcomed everyone with love, prayer, wisdom, and, when needed, a good sermon.

One of her favorite sayings was:

“God bless you as you go.”

Those words became her signature blessing and remain etched in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Mary was also a proud member of the Red Hat Society, where she enjoyed fellowship, friendship, laughter, and celebrating life with other women.

She enjoyed reading her Bible, writing, crocheting, visiting the beach, and traveling to her beloved Hawaii. She loved watching her favorite movies, including Pretty Woman, Beaches, Driving Miss Daisy, The Notebook, Madea, Roll Bounce, and The Bodyguard. She watched them so often that her family could practically quote them along with her.

Mary also loved good food. Some of her favorites included kraut dogs, calamari, shrimp scampi, and Mexican food. She especially enjoyed a glass of Manischewitz wine. Her laugh was unforgettable, her hugs were comforting, her stories were captivating, and no visit was complete without her wanting to sneak away for ice cream.

Mary leaves to cherish her precious memory her four children, eight grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, her beloved sister Peggy Taylor (Abner Taylor), numerous nieces and nephews, extended family members, lifelong friends, and her cherished church family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edward Rountree; her parents, Floyd Richardson and Clara Mae Miller Richardson; her brothers, Floyd Richardson and Lewis Richardson; her sister, Carol Ann Richardson; and her precious angel baby, Marc Rountree.

Mary’s greatest legacy will never be measured by earthly possessions, professional titles, or personal accomplishments. Her true legacy lives in every prayer she prayed, every Scripture she shared, every life she touched, every lesson she taught, every hug she gave, every story she told, and every generation she loved so deeply.

She taught us that faith comes first.

She taught us that family is one of God’s greatest blessings.

She taught us to pray through every season, trust God in every circumstance, speak life into others, and share love freely.

Because of Mary, our family is stronger.

Because of her prayers, we understand the power of God’s faithfulness.

Because of her example, we know how to stand firmly in our faith.

Because of her love, we know what family truly means.

Although our hearts ache in her absence, we rejoice knowing she is healed, whole, and finally home. We imagine her hearing the words she faithfully lived her entire life to hear:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Until we meet again, Mom.

Until we meet again, Grandma.

Until we meet again, Great GrandDolly.

You will forever be our matriarch, our prayer warrior, our biggest cheerleader, and the wind beneath our wings. Your faith has become our foundation, your love has become our legacy, and your prayers will continue to cover our family for generations to come.

Forever Loved.

Forever Missed.

Forever Our Prayer Warrior.

Forever Our Angel. 💜🕊️

Mary Ellen Rountree

March 7, 1938 – July 5, 2026