Mary Ann “Marianne” Stover

Mary Ann “Marianne” Stover

1944-2023

Mary Ann (Marianne) Stover nee Calay, went to be with the Lord on February 22, 2023. She was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on November 24, 1944 as the fourth child to Lawrence James Calay and Jeanne Louise Calay (nee Duerr).

Marianne grew up as one of six Calay kids on a farm outside Berrien Springs, Michigan.  The farm provided many opportunities for adventures in the barn, reenactments of radio shows, and sibling safaris in the fields.  Marianne used her gift of imagination to transform these adventures into great stories for years to come. 

Marianne met the love of her life, Dennis Stover, at Berrien Springs Junior High School.  Together, they won the High School District Debate Championship.  They courted for five years before their marriage in 1965.  Afterward, they began a new life in Ann Arbor.  Marianne started her career as a system analyst for the University of Michigan while Dennis finished his graduate studies.  It was there that she developed her passion for UM football.  After Dennis’s graduation, she embraced adventure, relocating to Texas and eventually her forever home, Edmond, Oklahoma.

Marianne dedicated herself to volunteering, gardening, and golf. 

Marianne was active in the Corpus Christi school system as a key volunteer and a vibrant member of the school’s PTA.  She always welcomed her children’s friends and neighbors’ children to her home for days full of sprinkler water play, roller skating, homemade popcorn, and cartoons. She was always available to aid other parents with carpooling and chaperoned countless trip to the beach. In later years, she served as a regular cook with Meals on Wheels and loved spending time with friends while helping to serve the Edmond community members in need.

As her girls grew, she found her passion in gardening and golf, which she carried with her to Oklahoma.  She became an amateur championship golfer at Oak Tree and loved her Ladies’ Play Days along with couples’ tournaments with Dennis.  Despite the challenges of gardening in red dirt, Marianne fell in love with Edmond, Oklahoma, and the beautiful friendships she made here.  Over time, the golf days were replaced with cookouts on her garden patio surrounded by friends.

She took great joy in hosting parties, holiday dinners, and family get-togethers. For many years, she greatly enjoyed hosting her annual “Peony Parties” in which she would fill the house with friends and share fresh peonies from her garden.  In the fall, she cherished football as she prepared for Christmas, her favorite holiday.  Each year she put great effort into displaying decorations she collected from her global travels.

Dennis’s career provided opportunities to explore Canada, Wyoming, and Central Europe.  Her interest in family genealogy led them to Ireland where story telling was a natural fit.  Her dad often said that one should “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”. Marianne was always her father’s daughter.

As a Mother and Grandmother, Marianne possessed a vibrant love for ensuring that all children had the best childhood she could imagine.  Her home was always full of toys, puppets, and board games.  She often hosted her grandchildren’s friends with tea parties, pony rides, tree climbing and even once she created a cherry pit spitting contest.

Marianne is survived by her loving husband of over 57 years, Dennis Stover, her two daughters, Nicole Fowler (Lonnie) of Edmond Oklahoma, Erin Stover (Ed Eckert) of Charlotte North Carolina, grandson Blake Dahlberg of San Marcos, Texas, granddaughter Paige Dahlberg of Pearland, Texas, brother in law Bob Grossnickle, her sisters Karen Bixby (Carl), Madelon Dickson, Cindy Vince, brother Mark Calay (Nancy), brother in law Bruce Stover, brother in law Dale Stover (Lynn), and countless nieces and nephews.

Marianne is preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Judith Ann Grossnickle. 

Visitation and a Celebration of Life for the public will be held at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK, on Sunday, February 26^th , from 4-6 pm, with a Rosary following at 6 pm.  Funeral Mass will be held Monday, February 27^th, at St John’s Catholic Church in Edmond at 11 am.  A memorial and interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs, MI, will be scheduled at a later date. To live stream the service please click the following link

https://youtube.com/live/AgQz7JFre3c?feature=share

Flowers may be sent to Matthews Funeral Home.  If you prefer to make a charitable contribution in her honor, the family suggests the American Kidney Fund at https://www.kidneyfund.org/tribute-wall/8485