In Memory

Mary W Bryant (Ellery/Huntington)

Mary W Bryant (Ellery/Huntington)



 
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09/02/09 08:25 PM #1    

Milton W Bush

Mary was born 30 Oct 1943 and expired 21 Feb 1993 in northern Illinois. She lived two doors north of us on Conger St. in Sherman Woods. Her parents were Jamie and Winifred Bryant, both University of Michigan graduates. Mary Glenn Sanderson was her favorite aunt. We played at just about everything from the fourth grade on. Her house was where I watched tv when someone else was hogging our tele.

Among her best buddies were Linda Pressprich and Bonnie Andreae, plus all the many kids in the neighborhood. Her Mom, Wink, fixed up pb&j's for lunch hundreds of times. First, I had to go home to ask... Wink played first violin in the International Symphony for decades. She practiced two hours, six days a week, so the house abounded in music every afternoon. Mary played the piano and clarinet. She was a fine student. Learned to type in the seventh grade, along with Shudy West. Typed all of her geography class reports. That impressed Mr. Lymburner.
In the 9th grade, she had some oopsies: in December, she broke a leg skiing at Hidden Valley. Everybody autographed the cast. In March, she broke it again. Wow.

She attended Kingswood School, Cranbrook in the 10th grade. Many neighborhood kids went to prep schools. She met Rob Ellery there. Dropped out in Oct of 11th grade; homesick. She and Rob went to the senior prom. He was then enrolled at Michigan on a Navy ROTC program. Nine months later, Robert Brigham Ellery III arrived - the Ides of March, 1962. Jamie called the Michigan president and got her enrolled there Aug, shortly before the small wedding. A second child arrived in the summer of 1963.

Rob was in an English/journalism program. Did photos for the Michigan Daily for four years. The Daily had a quite good photo lab. He also used the PHTH lab with Ralph Polovich. Ralph was a banjo player, among many other things. He would stop by the Bryant house and we would do folk songs for endless hours. The Navy sent Rob to Newport Beach - teaching journalism. He talked several times of a Navy jinx or ghost - this is haunting. His grandpa died in the Navy. His dad, RBE Sr. died in the Navy. I think it was 1944 in the South Pacific, a non-combat air crash, all lost. I have not heard Rob's story, and never asked. After about 4 years in the Navy, Rob expired on the base. This was Feb 1969. A tragedy.

A few years later, Mary wed Bill Huntington, a Navy nuclear engineer. They settled south of Chicago. A second daughter followed. The kids became Huntingtons. Mary's Mom expired about a year before she, age 77. Jamie expired about 2002 in central Indiana.

Mary was sort of like my second sister.

Milt Bush
Durham, CT

09/05/09 02:17 PM #2    

Roger (Rod) Krumlauf

Milt,
Thanks for sharing your memories of Mary.

11/29/09 09:33 AM #3    

Linda J Pressprich (DeLuca)

Milton, What a beautiful comment on the life of our dear friend Mary. I talked to Mary right before her death. So sad. I still get a card from her lovely daughter Ginny.

05/07/10 09:51 AM #4    

Sandra Kaufman (Maes)

I Remember Mary walking through the halls of Port Huron High School with a "smile " on her face and  "confidence"  seem  to define her stride.Sorry, that I did not know her better,however she influnced my attitude I remeber well.  Sandy Kaufman  Maes


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