Mary Dewys

It is with heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Mary Alice (Fuerst) DeWys, age 87, of Walker, Michigan, on Monday, February 19, 2024, to join her late husband of 66 years, Eugene, and her late son, Mark. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Matthew (Carol) DeWys, Jonathan (Wendy) DeWys, Leah (Mark) Carpenter; grandchildren, Paul and Ben (Angie) DeWys, Lauren (Josh) Mayer, Luke (Christy) DeWys, Kierslynn and Cecilia DeWys, Andrew, Josh (Aislinn), and Hannah DeWys, Erickson, Olivia, Ansel, and Ellis Carpenter; great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Gianna DeWys, her sister-in-law Dort Bishop, and brothers-in-law Earl Husted, Richard Dykstra, as well as several nieces, nephews and their families. She was admired by her family, friends, and the lives she touched along the way. Mary cherished her grandchildren deeply, and they adored her for her enormous love, sense of fun, attentive ear, and unwavering support. Alongside her devotion to family, she found solace and joy in her horses and the hobby farm she shared with her late husband, Gene. Mary had a beautiful faith that included a unique sensitivity towards the indigent and people of color, especially the Native American population. With over 60 years of dedicated service as a registered nurse, Mary pioneered developmental care, parent-to-parent mentorship, and family-centered care within the NICU at Butterworth Hospital, where she served as an early leader and champion. Her passion for lifelong learning drove her to become an avid researcher, sharing her expertise through professional and community workshops and co-authoring numerous published articles on infant behavior, attachment, and feeding. In the final weeks of her life, Mary remained devoted to her mission, actively contributing to a project through GVSU aimed at securing services for developmentally delayed infants, a testament to her enduring dedication to serving others. A Celebration of Life for Mary will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 11:30 AM at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before the service, relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:00-11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the GVSU project on developmentally delayed infants, a cause dear to Mary's heart. Donations can be made online at https://www.gvsu.edu/giving/give-now-mary-dewys-891.htm To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Dewys, please visit our flower store.