Mary Rouse

Mary Jane Purdy, Portage, passed away Wednesday morning, October 29, 2014. Mary was born September 27, 1922 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Cornelius and Hattie (Tolhurst) DeSmit. She was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and had been a lifelong resident in the Kalamazoo area. Mary worked as a secretary for Kalamazoo County, spending most of her 25 years working at the Juvenile Home. Mary had a positive personality; was a member of Pathfinder Church and enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling and loved spending time with her family. On November 22, 1986 she was united in marriage to her loving husband Raymond Rouse, who preceded her in death on December 19, 2013. She was also preceded in death by son Daniel Johnson; and 7 brothers and sisters. Also surviving are her children, Lawrence Johnson, Ronald (Jane) Johnson, Karen Mayne, William (Judy) Johnson; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Newbre; and many nieces and nephews. A service will be held at 11:00am Saturday November 1, at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre with Pastor John Moore officiating. Friends may meet the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Pathfinder Church or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.