Age 97, died September 20, 2012 at her summer cottage at Portage Lake, Onekama, Michigan. Mary was born on October 14, 1914 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the late Philip Everett Bursley and Flora Peters Bursley. She was a graduate of University High School and the University of Michigan. She lived in Michigan for the first sixty years of her life, in Ann Arbor, Albion, and Jackson. At the end of the 70's she and her husband, Collins, moved to Sanibel Island, Florida for the winter months. They continued to spend their summers at Portage Lake where they had raised their four children: Deborah, Virginia, Victoria and Philander. She is survived by her children, her daughter-in-law, Gretchen, her five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She lived for the past eight years at Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida. Mary was preceded in death by Collins, in 1983 and Gilbert Bursley, her only sibling whose death occurred on the same day as her own, September 20, in 1998. Mary was an active and energetic volunteer in a variety of local and state civic activities throughout her life but is probably best remembered for her intellectual curiosity, creativity and love of entertaining. Throughout her life she maintained close ties with both her German exchange "son", Klaus Busse, and her extended Turkish family. She was loved by family and family friends of all generations. A memorial and celebration will be held next summer at Portage on August 3, 2013. Donations may be made to St. Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel, Florida and to St. John's By-The-Lake Episcopal Chapel, Onekama, Michigan.
Age 97, died September 20, 2012 at her summer cottage at Portage Lake, Onekama, Michigan. Mary was born on October 14, 1914 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the late Philip Everett Bursley and Flora Peters Bursley. She was a graduate of University High School and the University of Michigan. She lived in Michigan for the first sixty years of her life, in Ann Arbor, Albion, and Jackson. At the end of the 70's she and her husband, Collins, moved to Sanibel Island, Florida for the winter months. They continued to spend their summers at Portage Lake where they had raised their four children: Deborah, Virginia, Victoria and Philander. She is survived by her children, her daughter-in-law, Gretchen, her five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She lived for the past eight years at Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida. Mary was preceded in death by Collins, in 1983 and Gilbert Bursley, her only sibling whose death occurred on the same day as her own, September 20, in 1998. Mary was an active and energetic volunteer in a variety of local and state civic activities throughout her life but is probably best remembered for her intellectual curiosity, creativity and love of entertaining. Throughout her life she maintained close ties with both her German exchange "son", Klaus Busse, and her extended Turkish family. She was loved by family and family friends of all generations. A memorial and celebration will be held next summer at Portage on August 3, 2013. Donations may be made to St. Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel, Florida and to St. John's By-The-Lake Episcopal Chapel, Onekama, Michigan.
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