Mary Jean Kidd
FORD RIVER — Mary Jean Kidd, 97, of Ford River, was reunited in the loving arms of her dear husband Lawrence “Lug” on May 9, 2023.
Mary Jean was born on December 30, 1925, the daughter of Arne and Jennie (Jacobsen) Rian in Rockford, Illinois.
Mary attended and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1944. After High School, Mary went on to Business School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she also spent time singing in a dance band.
She was united in marriage to her beloved, Lawrence Kidd on October 2, 1948. Mary and Lawrence were married for 71 beautiful years before he passed in August, 2019.
Mary worked as a secretary at T. D. Vinette Co. and as the Children’s Choir Director at Immanuel Lutheran Church for many years. Mary loved her days spent working with and raising her children and singing.
To know Mary was to know love. As soon as you walked through the doors of the Kidd home, you became one of Mary’s kids, all of whom she never forgot and loved unconditionally. Mary had a special place in her heart for her “boys” and always made sure to give them her best smile and a kiss on the cheek.
Mary was the self-proclaimed family Grand Matriarch, always making sure everyone was taken care of and welcomed. She loved laughing, a good party and her family more than anything imaginable.
Mary had many hobbies including oil painting, sewing, making her famous ornaments, crafting, boating and gardening in her younger years.
Mary is survived by her son, Lawrence “Larry” (Helen Lokar) Kidd; her two daughters, Kathryn Blair and Jacqueline Moore; her brother, Kenneth (Lou) Rian; sister-in-law, Shirley Rian; and many nieces and nephews; her grandchildren, Jessica Blair, Nicole (Scott) McNeish, David Blair, Trevor Moore, Jacob Moore, and bonus grandson, Andrew Lokar; her great-grandchildren, Nehemiah Blair, Ivy and Reeve McNeish; as well as her special nephew, Emerson “Butch” (Donna) Kidd.
In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Kidd; brothers Jim and Arne Rian; two infant daughters, Kathleen and Jean; son-in-laws, John Blair and Terry Moore.
Mary’s family would like to thank Murray’s Country View Assisted Living in Gladstone and U.P. Health System Hospice for their care and love.
A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Mike Markwell officiating. A luncheon will follow.
The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Kidd family.