Anita Rumery

Rumery , Anita Paw Paw On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, Anita Louise (Amidon) Rumery peacefully traded in her earthly home for her heavenly, eternal home. Born on November 14, 1936 in a small suburb of Chicago, she is the daughter of William Francis Amidon and Florence Anna Thommen. The family moved to Tyner, Indiana when Anita was young and that is where she spent most of her growing up years with her younger brother, Bob, and two younger sisters, Eileen and Nancy. In her 12th year of high school, the family moved to Mattawan, Michigan. Anita's father, William Amidon, was pastor of the Mattawan Congregational Church. After high school, Anita went to Western Michigan University, graduating with a teaching degree. While at Western, she met her husband-to-be, Donald Lee Rumery. They were married in 1957 at the Mattawan Congregational Church. The couple moved to Lawrence, Michigan, then to Athens, Michigan, finally settling in Paw Paw, Michigan in 1970. Most of Anita's teaching career took place at Lawton Elementary School where she taught music and 4th grade classroom for 20 years. Because she loves teaching and wasn't ready to retire, she taught 4th grade at First Assembly Christian School for many years. Throughout her life, Anita was very active as a gifted pianist for a variety of churches and other organizations, and taught piano to a great number of students. She also accompanied the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Oratorio Society, as well as being a long-time choral member of the KOS. She created a Performing Arts Camp for local youth, served as a church pianist for most of her life, directing a multitude of Christmas and Easter church programs, junior and senior choirs, including the Fellowship Choir. She organized regular choir visits to local nursing homes and the local jail, seeking places of ministry. Anita took delight in providing opportunities for people to use their God-given musical talents. And those who know Anita, know that if there was a piano in the room, you would find Anita sitting on the bench. It was one of the greatest joys of her life. Anita was preceded to heaven by her parents, William and Florence Amidon; her brother, Robert William Amidon, her sister, Mary Ruth Amidon, and her brother-in-law, Donald Bernard Trumblee. Family members remaining include her sisters, Eileen (Jessie) Davis and Nancy Kenney; her three daughters: Beth Ann DeVall and children: Samuel (Hannah) James DeVall, and Hannah Beth DeVall; Yvonne Ruth Rumery and daughter: Grace Anita Leigh Rumery; and Margaret (Charles) Louise Flannery and children: Rachel (Tom) Louise Reisterer, and Jacob (Kaitlin) Charles Flannery. Anita has four beloved great grandchildren: Benjamin Michael Ayres; Isaiah Douglass Lee DeVall; Aliza Louise Flannery, and Mack Jacob Flannery, as well as many greatly loved nieces and nephews. Burial will take place at the Almena Township Cemetery. A memorial service celebrating Anita's life will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2020, 4:00 p.m. at New Hope Fellowship, 201 W. Michigan Avenue in Paw Paw, Michigan. Share a memory or sign the online tribute wall at: www.adamspawpaw.com