Mary M. Lynch

Mary M. Lynch LYNCH, MRS.MARY M. Muskegon Mary M. Lynch of Muskegon, a 53-year member of Norton Shores Gospel Tabernacle and former owner of a longtime community grocery, passed from home to heaven Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2006) after a brief bout with brain cancer. She was 87. For 19 years, Mary co-owned Lynch's Food Market at 1486 Getty St., a fixture in the Muskegon neighborhood during the 1950s and 1960s. She continued to operate the store after the 1967 death of Estel Lynch, her husband of 27 years, and she never remarried. Mary was a faithful member of her congregation, rarely missing a service and contributing to build a new church when it moved from the former Muskegon Heights Gospel Tabernacle. She touched many lives as a Sunday school teacher for young married churchgoers. She was born Mary Melissa Morse on Oct. 12, 1918, in Muskegon, and graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1938. She married in 1940 and had five children. Over the years, she attended Dale Carnegie and Palmer business classes, became certified in china painting and taught ceramics. She reveled in making ceramics with her grandchildren, one of whom she often drove to the Chronicle for his first job. Mary is preceded in death by: parents Jay and Dorothy Morse, husband Estel Lynch, son Stanley Lynch, infant daughter Barbara Lynch, brothers John and Glen Morse, and sisters Doris Morse and Sara Sniff. She is survived by: brothers Art Morse (Virginia) of Hesperia and William "Mickey'' Morse (Bobbi) of Farwell, sister Cora Kurburski of Muskegon, son Robert Lynch (Nancy) of Two Harbors, Minn., daughters Rosemary Savage (Robert) and Patricia Lynch of Muskegon, 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Visitation will be Sunday, 2-5 p.m., at Lee Funeral Home, 2812 5th St. in Muskegon Heights, (231) 733-2152. Services will be Monday at 1 p.m., with pastors Kevin and Michael McCormick officiating. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Norton Shores Gospel Tabernacle Building Fund or to the family to help cover funeral costs. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.leechapel.com. -Lee (733-2152)