Mary Ann Jilbert died August 10, 2026, at the age of 85. She was born in Mt Clemens, MI. on April 27, 1941 to Henrietta (Beatty) and Richard Green.

 She graduated from Utica High School in 1959. During her high school years she was involved in Girl Scouts , Rainbow Girls, and joined the Utica Methodist Church at 13. She sang in the choir with her parents, taught Sunday School classes and was an active member of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and played her Dad’s trumpet in the high school band. She held First Chair in the band for two years, and they played in many parades. They also took part in the Detroit Thanksgiving, the Cherry Royale in Traverse City and they were also at the dedication of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957. In addition to these special events they gave concerts in the Utica area. Mary attended Band Camp at Interlochen in 1958 and the Utica Band attended the huge Band Days at U of M where Meredith Wilson directed “76 Trombones” from the “Music Man.” At the Ford Auditorium in Detroit she sang a solo accompanied by her band for a 500 person plus Teacher Convention. Mary’s parents were leaders in the Scout programs. Square Dancing demonstrations were practiced in her home. At one time this group went to the Masonic Temple in Detroit where Gov. G. Mennen Williams was doing the calling for the dancers. In Rainbow Girls, Mary was a State Representative, Pianist and soloist. She also did many stations of the Rainbow and received the Grand Cross of Color. When Mary was 15 she traveled to PA on a train with her grandmother Beatty from Grand Central Train Station out of Detroit. That train station was always well remembered as it was a beautiful old building which has since been restored and will be offices and apartments.

 In the fall of 1959, she attended Central Michigan University and there met her future husband, Ken, at the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church the 2nd week she was there. She sang in the church choir for her last two years at CMU. Mary graduated from CMU with a BA degree/Teaching Certificate. Ken signed a teaching contract in 1961 to teach for the Manistee Public Schools. Mary did her student teaching in the 1st Semester of 1963 at the Manistee Washington School under the supervision of Mrs. Kay Claypool. Mary loved the area because she spent the first 13 summers of her life at a cottage on Big Platte Lake in Benzie County with her Beatty grandparents.

 Mary and Ken were married at the Utica Methodist Church on Aug 17, 1963 and celebrated 62 years, living in Manistee the whole time.

 Mary taught in a split 2nd grade class at Lincoln School and then Kindergarten at the newly built Madison School. She also did many years of substitute teaching in the Manistee School System. Mary was an active member in the Manistee Co. Historical Museum. She worked along side Ken in his many projects at the Methodist Church and the Manistee County Historical Museum. She also sang in the choir at the church, and did some directing of the choir when needed. Mary also taught Nursery school, made banners for the church walls and made Chrismons which were used on the 30 foot tall real Christmas tree inside the Sanctuary of the church for many years. She also gave history speeches about the church itself here in Manistee. 

Mary was a past member of the American Association of University Women giving programs and having meetings for the group in her home too.

 Mary and Ken were members of the Manistee Boat Club. They built the docks at Solberg’s Marina when they first needed a place for the boats to be docked. Their home was a place for some of the meetings for this Club. She and Ken “boated” for 40 years in Lake Michigan, the North Channel and Lake Huron. They used their Classic Wooden Cruiser. 

Mary and Ken built their home in Manistee in 1966, and added an addition in 1989. She loved the history of Manistee, and she and Ken did a lot at the Water Works Museum on First St. to keep it clean and orderly. For many years Mary helped Ken put in 5 units in the Victorian Sleighbell Parade.

 Mary played her trumpet in the Manistee Community Band for 50 years. She also played the piano and key board and sang in the Manistee Community Choir for many years.

 Besides all her music work, she also enjoyed certain hobbies like crewel embroidery work, coloring, sewing, walking, feeding the birds and growing a few flowers….especially Shasta Daisies! She loved to read….especially mysteries. Watching good shows or ball games on TV (go Tigers ) was a must, and beautiful sunsets were always a joy to see ! Mary enjoyed making people happy with her cards and/or letters that she often sent out and visited shut-ins. 

She enjoyed her dog, named Toto (from the Wizard of Oz), for 15 years when she was growing up. Her latest pet has been a cute little “chippy” who came often to her door to get a piece of food, and would actually eat it out of her hand!

 Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Jilbert, who passed away in January 2026, her parents, her Beatty and Green grandparents, uncles, aunts cousins, mother and father-in-law and two brother-in-laws, and godson, Glendon Butler.

 She is survived by her niece, Claudia Fowler (George), her godson, David Youngberg, and her cousins, including Tim Spangler of PA and Rusty Petchauer of Grand Rapids, and close friends including the Jake Bielski family, the Youngberg family, other close neighbors, her church friends, museum members, people who purchased Ken’s boat models, and other acquaintances they met on boat trips.

 Her belief in God and His teachings in the Bible have always been a big part of Mary’s life. The best in this life was her beloved husband, Ken, who was her helper and partner for over 60 years.

 The funeral service will be at the Bridges Church on First Street, Friday, August 28, at 11:00 AM, with visitation one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will be served following the service. Burial will be in the local Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials in Mary’s name may be made out to the Manistee County Historical Museum on River Street.

 Funeral arrangements were provided by Oak Grove Cremation Center