Obituary of Mazie Sowles

Mazie Orle Sowles, 90, formerly of Midland, MI, was taken home to her Savior on October 6, 2021, from her home in The Colony, TX surrounded by family. Mazie was born February 9, 1931 at home in Bay Shore, Michigan, the 6th of seven children of Arthur and Georgia Anna (Redfield) Burnett. She graduated from Petoskey High School in 1949 and went on to earn a two-year certificate from Central Michigan College (now University) in 1951. She worked during high school and in summers during college for Michigan Bell Telephone Company. In her college dorm she was a telephone switchboard operator to offset living expenses. Mazie met her future husband Pete on a blind date arranged by her “Ma Bell” coworker Millie, Pete’s sister. They were married on April 26, 1952. The adventure began! During their first year of marriage both accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and became born-again Christians! This changed the course of their lives and their eternal destiny. They also moved to Midland, MI which became their lifetime home. Next came 3 children starting with a set of twins. More excitement! Mazie and Pete joined Calvary Baptist Church at its original location, the Midland Community Center, and helped with the construction of the first church building on Cherry St. Over the years Mazie probably was involved in every task available, such as Sunday School teacher, deaconess, help in the office, typing and mimeographing the bulletins, helping with youth group events, Awana leader, summer camp counselor, singing in the choir, in duets, trios and as a soloist, plus taking care of funeral dinners! When their children were adults Mazie and Pete became actively involved in Gideons International, an organization that provides for Bibles and New Testaments to be distributed around the world for free. Mazie enjoyed her career at the Dow Chemical Company in various secretarial positions, retiring in 1991. Mazie was an accomplished seamstress, enjoyed gardening, then canning and freezing her harvest. Mazie was actively pro-family! She loved every relative and attended every event of family and extended family members if at all possible: graduations, weddings, funerals, reunions. Mazie was blessed with a husband who simply adored her. He called her Amazing Mazie and within their family she is still lovingly referred to as Amazing Mazie. Along with her husband Pete, there wasn’t a topic or situation for which they didn’t know a song! And, they loved to sing, entertaining kids and grandkids with their repertoire! In retirement, Mazie and Pete traveled all over mainland United States, and to Alaska in RV’s. They also visited friends and family in their travels. For many years their travel included being members of the non-denominational Christian organization RVICS (Roving Volunteers in Christ’s Service). RVICS missionary teams of 8-12 people provide a wide variety of maintenance, service and construction assistance to needy non-profit Christian organizations. Mazie provided secretarial, organizational and sewing skills, as well as painting and cleaning. When in Michigan, Mazie also volunteered for Senior Services of Midland as a driver for medical transportation and at MidMichigan Medical Center’s reception desk. Since Pete went to Heaven in 2016, Mazie has been blessed to live with her son, Mark and his wife, Trudy, her daughter by heart. There she was loved, safe, happy and doted on in every way. Mazie is survived by son Mark “Jason” (Trudy) Sowles of The Colony, TX, daughter Marcia (Gary) Visscher of Ludington, MI, son by marriage and by heart Duane (Jane) Moe of Sanford, MI; grandchildren Benjamin (Brooke) Fitch of Howell, MI, Elizabeth (Jake) Reeves of Searcy, AR, Amanda (Phil) Denny of Lansing, MI, Mark Jr. (Shana) Sowles of Olathe, KS, Emily (Bobby) Herbold of Plano, TX, Alison Sowles of The Colony, TX, Rachel (Robin) Strait of Hope, MI, Emily (Rahul) Singh of Milwaukee, WI, and Kevin Moe of Sanford, MI; great grandchildren Beckett and Bennett Fitch, Turner, Stratton and Mara Reeves, Dreux and Braden Denny, McKinzi, Lake and Tucker Sowles, Cooper and Riley Herbold, Shayla (Will) Fisher, Serenity Reddo-Strait and Trevin Reddo; great-great grandchildren Aurora Fisher and Olivia Reddo; sister Delores “Jen” Cain of Charlevoix, MI and many nieces and nephews. Mazie is preceded in death by her adoring husband Evan “Pete” Sowles, her beloved daughter Colleen Moe; her parents, sisters Marion Burnett, Shirley O’Brien, and Zoe Stanek, brothers Arthur Burnett and Chuck Burnett and special friends Evelyn Ewert and Elda Phillips. Mazie’s funeral service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 6100 Perrine Rd, Midland, MI on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 11:00am with Reverend Dan Dickerson officiating. Visitation will take place at 10:00am at the church prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow at Edenville Township Cemetery. The Sowles family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Merit Memorial Funeral & Cremation Care of Farmers Branch, TX, together with Smith-Miner Funeral Home of Midland, MI. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Bryan Buntyn of Merit Memorial for his hands-on and thorough handling of all arrangements from Texas to Michigan. We also wish to extend sincere appreciation to Dan Dickerson and Calvary Baptist Church for their gracious hosting of all memorial events, including the preparations of the luncheon. Mazie has requested that memorial donations be made to Gideon’s International.