Ann Elizabeth Brydges

Not too long ago, God looked around Heaven and decided what He needed was a little more cowbell. Ann Brydges, whose clanging rallying cry reverberated across her young sons' athletic fields - the gong striking fear in the hearts and ears of their opponents - was called home to take up her place in His cheering section.

Born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI, Ann met the love of her life, Frederick Martin "Marty" Brydges, while he was attending Western Michigan University. They were wed February 4th, 1967, a week later than planned, as The Blizzard of '67 dumped thirty inches of snow in Kalamazoo the week prior.

After Marty's Army tour in Vietnam, they settled in southeast Michigan, where they adopted two sons, naming them Steven Martin (b. 1972), and Jeremy Bowen (b. 1975). In the late-70s, the family moved to Missouri, where, among other things, they learned how to ride, groom, and get thrown off horses. In 1980, Marty took a sales position for General Foods in northern Michigan. But that wasn't all. He bought The Sail Shop, in Kewadin, which Ann primarily ran. While Marty covered ground from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron to sell copious amounts of coffee, Ann sold sailboats to people on all the lakes in between. It was during this time in the 1980s that the cowbell came to fame in Antrim County, as a petite n' proper mom would rise from her seat to brandish the boisterous instrument at her boys' baseball games.

From 1985 until her passing, Ann lived in Traverse City, where, through the years, she was involved with The Old Town Playhouse and Dennos Museum. She was fond of outdoor activities, which included walking along the shores with Marty to find beach glass; walking her dog Braley with neighborhood friends (furry and otherwise); gardening, and visits with numerous friends.

A doting mom and grandmother, "La La" was known for giving thoughtful gifts, always remembering a birthday, holiday, or an eventful moment with a card, and for her sweet and gentle way with people. She was classy in that she was a classic, from a time when manners maketh man, and her sense of etiquette, punctuality, courteousness and thoughtfulness were part of what made her so dear to her friends and family.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Kathryn Bowen (née Everett), her oldest brother Jim Bowen, and her beloved husband. She is survived by her sons Steven (Leann Salisbury) and Jeremy (Katie Mikowski), six grandchildren (Mara, Regan, Ella, Marty, Mac, and Merritt), her brother John Bowen and his family, her sister-in-law Jan Bowen and Jan's son, Jim Jr.

Ann wished to be cremated. There will be a graveside service with burial at Memorial Gardens (3575 Veterans Drive, Traverse City), at 2 PM on July 7th, followed by a small reception from 3 - 4:30 at Firefly (310 N Cass St, Traverse City). In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Cherryland Humane Society or a charity of one's choice. Kindly share thoughts and memories with her family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .