Obituary for Mary Birdsall Layher
Mary Birdsall Layher
August 31, 1941 - February 25, 2021
Mary passed away peacefully in her home in Dexter, Michigan, on Thursday, February 25, 2021, following a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 79 years old.
Born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey, the middle daughter of C. Houghton and Elizabeth (Harvey) Birdsall, Mary Elizabeth attended Westfield High School. She then attended Simmons College in Boston, MA, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition. It was in Boston that she met her future husband, Thomas Layher, on a blind date in 1960 (actually, Mary was a last-minute stand in for another girl who had to cancel) – a small, serendipitous occurrence that led to a lifetime of happiness. The couple were married in 1964, settled in Michigan, and were long-time residents of Ann Arbor, where they raised three children. They relocated to Dexter in 2017.
Mary began her work career as a lab technician in the Clinical Research Unit of the University of Michigan Hospital (Old Main). Once her youngest child was of school-age, Mary reentered the workforce, serving many years as church secretary and preschool treasurer at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, and later as office administrator for Church Consultants Group, also in Ann Arbor. In addition to her professional work, Mary volunteered frequently for many organizations. She delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly and homebound in and around Ann Arbor for over a decade, and especially enjoyed bringing one of her grandchildren along for company. Since 2001, Mary served in a leadership capacity as the Executive Secretary of Measure for Measure -- A Men’s Choral Society, in Ann Arbor, where she handled everything from ticket sales to international travel logistics.
Mary’s many interests included playing bridge monthly with the same group of ladies for approximately 50 years; reading and participating in book clubs for decades; gardening and taking tours of botanical gardens; sewing and making dress-up and Halloween costumes for her grandkids; and travel. She and Tom took numerous trips in their retirement, particularly enjoying European river cruises.
Known as Mary-Beth in her childhood, then as Mary to friends and family, she became “May-May'' to her grandchildren, and the name just stuck. Friends, family and co-workers remember her bright smile, her warm and welcoming manner, and her cheerful can-do approach to things both large and small. Mary loved adventures and found many ways to have fun. She would organize hikes with her grandchildren through the woods of Marquette Island; be the first in line to jump off a schooner in the Atlantic for a swim in the ocean; and she loved fireworks (especially the homemade kind). An excellent hostess, Mary always opened her home to friends to stay for a visit or share a meal, and on many holidays she and Tom welcomed “orphans'' to their table who didn’t have family nearby.
Mary loved to be involved, to be helping, to build up the success of things that are worthwhile – arts organizations, support groups, and above all, her community of friends and family. She always made the effort to watch and cheer for her husband, kids, and grandkids in choral concerts, plays, band concerts, soccer games, circus performances, and dance recitals.
Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Thomas; by her three children: Theodore of Ann Arbor, MI; William (Kate Hannan) of St. Louis, MO; and Amanda (Anthony) Ryan of Ann Arbor, MI; by her five grandchildren Oliver, Anna, and Elsa Layher; Joseph and Lila Ryan; by sisters Lila (Walter) Dietz of Ocean, NJ; and Penelope (Peter) Hofmann of Dobbs Ferry, NY; by William (Bonnie) Layher of Greenbelt, MD; by Karin Layher of St. Louis, MO; and by many nieces and nephews.
We all loved her deeply and will miss her calm and cheerful presence in our lives. She brought harmony to us all. To quote one of Mary’s favorite songs (to the tune of Edelweiss) that she often requested the family sing prior to big family meals and celebrations: “Bless our friends, bless our food, bless our family forever.” She was our blessing.
A memorial service will be planned for the future. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
• Measure for Measure -- Men’s Choral Society https://measure-for-measure.org/donate/
• Arbor Hospice https://arborhospicecare.org/donate-online-us/
• Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA) https://mioca.org/donate
August 31, 1941 - February 25, 2021
Mary passed away peacefully in her home in Dexter, Michigan, on Thursday, February 25, 2021, following a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 79 years old.
Born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey, the middle daughter of C. Houghton and Elizabeth (Harvey) Birdsall, Mary Elizabeth attended Westfield High School. She then attended Simmons College in Boston, MA, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition. It was in Boston that she met her future husband, Thomas Layher, on a blind date in 1960 (actually, Mary was a last-minute stand in for another girl who had to cancel) – a small, serendipitous occurrence that led to a lifetime of happiness. The couple were married in 1964, settled in Michigan, and were long-time residents of Ann Arbor, where they raised three children. They relocated to Dexter in 2017.
Mary began her work career as a lab technician in the Clinical Research Unit of the University of Michigan Hospital (Old Main). Once her youngest child was of school-age, Mary reentered the workforce, serving many years as church secretary and preschool treasurer at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, and later as office administrator for Church Consultants Group, also in Ann Arbor. In addition to her professional work, Mary volunteered frequently for many organizations. She delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly and homebound in and around Ann Arbor for over a decade, and especially enjoyed bringing one of her grandchildren along for company. Since 2001, Mary served in a leadership capacity as the Executive Secretary of Measure for Measure -- A Men’s Choral Society, in Ann Arbor, where she handled everything from ticket sales to international travel logistics.
Mary’s many interests included playing bridge monthly with the same group of ladies for approximately 50 years; reading and participating in book clubs for decades; gardening and taking tours of botanical gardens; sewing and making dress-up and Halloween costumes for her grandkids; and travel. She and Tom took numerous trips in their retirement, particularly enjoying European river cruises.
Known as Mary-Beth in her childhood, then as Mary to friends and family, she became “May-May'' to her grandchildren, and the name just stuck. Friends, family and co-workers remember her bright smile, her warm and welcoming manner, and her cheerful can-do approach to things both large and small. Mary loved adventures and found many ways to have fun. She would organize hikes with her grandchildren through the woods of Marquette Island; be the first in line to jump off a schooner in the Atlantic for a swim in the ocean; and she loved fireworks (especially the homemade kind). An excellent hostess, Mary always opened her home to friends to stay for a visit or share a meal, and on many holidays she and Tom welcomed “orphans'' to their table who didn’t have family nearby.
Mary loved to be involved, to be helping, to build up the success of things that are worthwhile – arts organizations, support groups, and above all, her community of friends and family. She always made the effort to watch and cheer for her husband, kids, and grandkids in choral concerts, plays, band concerts, soccer games, circus performances, and dance recitals.
Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Thomas; by her three children: Theodore of Ann Arbor, MI; William (Kate Hannan) of St. Louis, MO; and Amanda (Anthony) Ryan of Ann Arbor, MI; by her five grandchildren Oliver, Anna, and Elsa Layher; Joseph and Lila Ryan; by sisters Lila (Walter) Dietz of Ocean, NJ; and Penelope (Peter) Hofmann of Dobbs Ferry, NY; by William (Bonnie) Layher of Greenbelt, MD; by Karin Layher of St. Louis, MO; and by many nieces and nephews.
We all loved her deeply and will miss her calm and cheerful presence in our lives. She brought harmony to us all. To quote one of Mary’s favorite songs (to the tune of Edelweiss) that she often requested the family sing prior to big family meals and celebrations: “Bless our friends, bless our food, bless our family forever.” She was our blessing.
A memorial service will be planned for the future. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
• Measure for Measure -- Men’s Choral Society https://measure-for-measure.org/donate/
• Arbor Hospice https://arborhospicecare.org/donate-online-us/
• Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA) https://mioca.org/donate