Born on October 17, 1928, to Roy and Alma (Anderson) McCloud, Mayrene was a lifelong resident of Stockbridge, Michigan, until she moved to Spring Lake in 2018 to be near her daughter. She graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1946 and married Richard Howlett in 1947. They remained devoted to each other for 66 years until his death in 2013.
May lived a full life. She was an active member of the Stockbridge Methodist Church, serving on multiple committees over the years. She loved everything Stockbridge and was a proud supporter of the Panthers. May was an exceptional athlete, excelling in multiple sports. She is one of the few who recorded three holes-in-one on the golf course. No one was more excited for her than her husband Dick. May was an avid bridge player and was a member of a group of very special ladies who played together for well over 40 years. She had a strong creative side as well. She was an accomplished photographer and took various art classes over the years. Much of her work is displayed in the homes of her children.
May loved her family. She and Dick always put family first, but enjoyed many activities together, including couples bridge, golfing, cross-country skiing and watching sports. May was a quiet but strong advocate for her children and was always willing to play. It was not uncommon for her to drop the dish towel when the neighborhood needed a pitcher. May instilled a strong social conscience in her kids by always modeling empathy and kindness.
Having her four kids in five years, she was notably easygoing and had a ready laugh. Not surprisingly, not much riled her. She delighted in the antics of her grandchildren and great grandchildren and found great joy in their accomplishments. She and Dick attended as many of their activities as they could.
May was predeceased by her husband, her son-in-law Pete Schmidt, her brothers Roy, Don, Henry, and James and her sister Eleanor. May is survived by her children Tim (Suzy) of Harrison Township; Becky Schmidt of Spring Lake; Chris (Patty) of Bloomfield Hills; and Dan (Melanie) of Lander, Wyoming. In addition she had eight grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Mayrene lived her best life and will be deeply missed by those who loved her. The family would like to especially thank the wonderful ladies of American House Timberbrook and Gentiva Hospice for their exceptional care.
A funeral service will be held at the Stockbridge United Methodist Church on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., and Friday at the church from 11:00 a.m. to the hour of the service.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Richard C. Howlett Education Fund c/o Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation or the Stockbridge United Methodist Church.
