Mary Kinsel Ries

Mary Ries died in her sleep on June 20, 2025, at Cordia Senior Living in Traverse City at the age of 97. She stood lightly on this Earth, enjoying a long life of family and friends, and was a gentle soul to all who knew her. Mary was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Beatrice (Walker) and Olin Kinsel, on December 13, 1927, and grew up there with her sister Joby (Joan Beatrice). During World War II, they lived in San Diego where their father was a Naval dental surgeon at the training base. After high school, Mary attended Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan until 1949, when she married the love of her life, Stanley Ries, whom she had known from grade school. Together they graduated from Michigan State University and then moved to Ithaca, New York for Stan to pursue a Ph.D. in Horticulture. Returning to East Lansing, Stan became a professor of Horticulture at MSU and they began their life in that university town, enjoying a wide circle of friends and neighbors. They had three children, Carol, Don, and Kathy, and instilled in them a love of nature and a strong sense of fairness and civic responsibility. True Spartans, they followed MSU football, basketball, and hockey teams during good years and bad, and endowed a foundation to support the MSU Horticulture Department. Mary loved to travel and went with Stan to Switzerland, Israel, Australia, and the People’s Republic of China, where Stan worked as a visiting professor and shared his research with other scientists. They also entertained many graduate students and foreign visitors in their home over the years. Mary was always a good listener and had a wonderful sense of humor with a twinkle in her eye. A lifelong reader, she also enjoyed physical fitness throughout her life, playing golf, tennis, and bowling with friends. She and Stan enjoyed gardening and their home was a featured site of the Greater Lansing Garden Club. Mary was predeceased by Stan after 63 years of marriage, her son Don, and her sister, Joby Mills. She is survived by her daughters, Carol Byerly of Boulder, Colorado, and Kathy Brandenburg (John), of Maple City, Michigan, her daughter-in-law, Karen Ries, and four grandchildren, Adam Ries of Portland, Oregon, Eva Brandenburg of New York City, Jessica Ries of Sarasota, Florida, and Jori Brandenburg of Berkeley, California. Contributions in Mary’s honor can be made to the MSU Horticulture Gardens and Planned Parenthood. The family would also like to recognize the compassionate care she received from Bayside Wellness Hospice and the staff at Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons.

Mary Kinsel Ries

December 13, 1927 - June 20, 2025