Obituary for Mary Alice Rakes (Sizemore)
Mary Alice Rakes, age 77, passed away on November 18, 2022 after a year-long long stay in hospice care. Her husband, Richard, was at her side when she passed.
Mary was born in Oceana, West Virginia, to the late Delbert and Vivian Sizemore on August 20, 1945. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Rakes; her two sons Shawn (Cheryl) Rakes and Richard Rakes, Jr.; her sister Dorothy Mitchem; and many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Mary grew up in and around Davy, WV, with her parents and three siblings; her brother James, the oldest, and her sisters Dorothy and Helen. Just after graduating from Davy High School in 1963, she moved to California with her high school sweetheart and was married. They lived there for just over a year and eventually settled in Taylor, Michigan, to be closer to extended family. In the early years, she was a homemaker taking care of her two boys and the house. However, she was a determined person and she challenged herself to start a working career. She learned to drive a car in her late 20s but was never comfortable driving on the freeways. She didn’t let this stop her; she simply drove surface streets to get to where she needed to go. After a short stint at a mattress factory, Mary hired into General Motors as an industrial seamstress. She didn’t know how to do the job, but she trusted her abilities to learn quickly and work hard. She retired from General Motors after 30 years of service and having worked many different kinds of manufacturing roles.
At home, Mary was a loving woman known for her Appalachian-style sausage gravy and biscuits breakfast and chicken and dumpling dinners. These recipes came from her mother and she learned them growing up but she made them her own. There were other dishes she made as well; pinto beans with wilted lettuce, cornbread, and her own signature egg sandwiches, among others. Later in life, she had many requests to prepare chicken and dumplings for her grandkid’s birthday dinners and she took great pleasure in doing so.
Mary was a reader and spent hours reading novels about many subjects over her lifetime. In her later years, she was especially fond of detective and adventure stories. The authors and books that interested her are too numerous to list.
She had a lifelong love of animals and had many beloved cats as pets. In her retirement years, though, it was her little dog companions that stole her heart. Ladybug was a rescue Jack Russell that was her faithful friend for many years. Ladybug went on vacations with her and was by her side at all times. After Ladybug’s passing, Mary had another rescue dog, a Chihuahua named Zoey who was also doted on by and loyal to her. Zoey visited Mary in hospice many times and is lovingly cared for today by Mary’s husband.
On any weekend morning, she was always quick to say yes for a trip to a coffee shop. However, she liked plain coffee rather than lattes or fancy drinks but would always add a sweet treat to her order. It was a pleasure shooting the breeze with her about how her week went, what books she was reading, or current events.
Mary will be missed in many ways.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Huron Valley Humane Society in memory of Mary and her beloved Ladybug and Zoey.
Mary was born in Oceana, West Virginia, to the late Delbert and Vivian Sizemore on August 20, 1945. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Rakes; her two sons Shawn (Cheryl) Rakes and Richard Rakes, Jr.; her sister Dorothy Mitchem; and many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Mary grew up in and around Davy, WV, with her parents and three siblings; her brother James, the oldest, and her sisters Dorothy and Helen. Just after graduating from Davy High School in 1963, she moved to California with her high school sweetheart and was married. They lived there for just over a year and eventually settled in Taylor, Michigan, to be closer to extended family. In the early years, she was a homemaker taking care of her two boys and the house. However, she was a determined person and she challenged herself to start a working career. She learned to drive a car in her late 20s but was never comfortable driving on the freeways. She didn’t let this stop her; she simply drove surface streets to get to where she needed to go. After a short stint at a mattress factory, Mary hired into General Motors as an industrial seamstress. She didn’t know how to do the job, but she trusted her abilities to learn quickly and work hard. She retired from General Motors after 30 years of service and having worked many different kinds of manufacturing roles.
At home, Mary was a loving woman known for her Appalachian-style sausage gravy and biscuits breakfast and chicken and dumpling dinners. These recipes came from her mother and she learned them growing up but she made them her own. There were other dishes she made as well; pinto beans with wilted lettuce, cornbread, and her own signature egg sandwiches, among others. Later in life, she had many requests to prepare chicken and dumplings for her grandkid’s birthday dinners and she took great pleasure in doing so.
Mary was a reader and spent hours reading novels about many subjects over her lifetime. In her later years, she was especially fond of detective and adventure stories. The authors and books that interested her are too numerous to list.
She had a lifelong love of animals and had many beloved cats as pets. In her retirement years, though, it was her little dog companions that stole her heart. Ladybug was a rescue Jack Russell that was her faithful friend for many years. Ladybug went on vacations with her and was by her side at all times. After Ladybug’s passing, Mary had another rescue dog, a Chihuahua named Zoey who was also doted on by and loyal to her. Zoey visited Mary in hospice many times and is lovingly cared for today by Mary’s husband.
On any weekend morning, she was always quick to say yes for a trip to a coffee shop. However, she liked plain coffee rather than lattes or fancy drinks but would always add a sweet treat to her order. It was a pleasure shooting the breeze with her about how her week went, what books she was reading, or current events.
Mary will be missed in many ways.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Huron Valley Humane Society in memory of Mary and her beloved Ladybug and Zoey.