Connie Joyce DeVries

Connie Joyce DeVries (Bannen) age 86 of Wayland, Michigan passed away peacefully at home on April 6, 2026. Born on July 28, 1939 in Greenville, Michigan. She was the child of the late Leonard Bannen and Beatrice Tully.

Connie worked for 30 plus years as a sewing machine operator at General Motors plant II on Alpine Avenue where she met her husband of 57 years, Sidney Joel DeVries. Together they traveled almost all 50 states by motorcycle and loved every minute of it, sometimes being away for a month at a time. They took many trips including cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. They both loved living on the water and had homes on both Little Pine Island Lake in Comstock Park, Michigan, a few homes in Zephyrhills, Florida and most recently Gun Lake in Wayland, Michigan. They truly enjoyed any kind of travel and did as much as they could.

Connie loved working in her yard and took great pride in her gardens as they were very beautiful all summer long. There was not an outdoor project that she wouldn't try to tackle.

Connie was preceded in death by their infant daughter Jolette Lynn DeVries, son-in-law Christopher Covert, siblings Dorothy Marks, Doris Cole, Larry Bannen, Edward Bannen, Marshall Bannen and Kay Corris, as well as her parents Leonard and Beatrice.

She is survived by her loving husband Sidney (Joe), children James Marks (Jaci), Michelle Covert, and Lisa Sargent (Dan) as well as grandchildren Daniel Marks (Meggan), Jamie Case (Will), Kellie Drooger (Chad), Andrea Castle (Matthew), Audra Klekotka (Jon), Rachel Riley (Brandon) and Teresa Baker (Joey) along with their great grandchildren, Ayla, Aiden, Mavin, Della and Renn.

A Celebration of Life for Connie will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Casino Club of Grand Rapids, 3206 Salerno Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 from 1PM - 4 PM.