Mary Kay Bell

Mary Kay Bell passed away on Thursday November 27th, 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family and friends at her home in West Branch Michigan, her favorite place to be. Mary Kay was born on October 6th, 1956 to Walter and Mildred VanBuhler in Detroit Michigan. She spent most of her school years in Royal Oak Michigan with her 8 siblings. She graduated from Bishop Foley High School in Royal Oak in 1974. Mary Kay maintained many of her high school friendships to this day, thoroughly enjoying her class reunions with her high school classmates.

Mary Kay moved to West Branch Michigan in 1975 and had 2 children, Heather Marie Rourke and Brian Walter Rourke. She has lived in West Branch the rest of her life having a number of different careers during that time. At the Tolfree Memorial Hospital Mary Kay helped register patients and do payroll. Upon leaving the hospital she worked a number of years for the Evergreen Clinic as a receptionist. Mary Kay was very proud of and happy to be a Jazzersize instructor and business owner. Many people in the area knew her well from those days. She also had a successful hair salon known as Ultra Images in West Branch. In 2002 she embarked on a business venture with her sister Janice DeLuca as proud owners of 4 different Curves for Women fitness centers. She truly enjoyed being partners with her sister Jan. Throughout her work career Mary Kay worked in numerous businesses as a waitress, a job she thoroughly enjoyed and took great pride in. These businesses include Lost Arrow Resort, Willow Tree Restaurant and most recently a server at G’s Pizzeria in downtown West Branch. Mary Kay’s work family at G’s were tremendously supportive of her during her illness, even hosting a wonderful fundraiser to help support her through her treatment for cancer.

Of the many titles Mary Kay had in her life, her absolute favorite was to be called Mimi! She treasured her 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and took great delight in spending time with them. Some of her favorite activities with them were reading, playing games, and attending their sporting and school events. Her trips to Splash Village Waterpark in Frankenmuth and the Ogemaw County Fair were annual events that we all looked forward to. She also enjoyed taking them to see and interact with all the animals at her neighbor’s farm.

Mary Kay married her husband Joe Bell in 1997 and added 3 more children to her family, Jessica, Sarah and Nick Bell. Joe and Mary Kay bought a house on the old Dill Farm near Clear Lake, and settled into a home life there, raising their children and grandchildren as they came along.

Mary Kay was very hard working, usually working multiple jobs along with babysitting grandchildren, which was never a job but a joy. Her grandchildren truly enjoyed visits to Mimi's house and even though she is no longer living there, that home will always be known as Mimi’s house.

Mary Kay’s vibrant personality and outgoing nature drew people to her as they recognized how special she was. Her genuine warmth and her ability to lead with love and kindness as she moved through life were amazing to see. As a Christian woman she believed that this was how Jesus wanted her to treat others and we believed that’s why so many people adored her! She used her wonderful sense of humor to lighten many people’s day, often stating that she missed her calling as a stand up comedian.

Throughout the course of her long illness, Mary Kay was constantly amazed at all of the support she received from her friends, family, and our community. She received hundreds of cards and saved each and every one, having them on display in her home to remind her how much she was truly loved and supported. She would look at them every day picking them up to read them, which helped sustain her energy and will during her battle with cancer.

Mary Kay also had a great passion for dogs. At one point she had 4 of her favorite breeds, shih-tzuhs. One of the things that she loved to do with her dogs was to make them sing, which greatly entertained everyone around them as they all howled together. Ronnie and Riley already miss her very much.

Mary Kay is survived by her loving husband Joe, children Heather (Todd) Morris, Brian Rourke, Jessica (Matt) Payne, Sarah Bell, and Nick (Kristen) Bell, siblings Linda (Brian) Taylor, Tom (Cindy) VanBuhler, Donna (Kim) Hilstrom, Ann (George) Fischer, Theresa (Jim) Kraft, and Paul VanBuhler, grandchildren Jordyn Wilkerson, Cameron (Cheyenne) Payne, Hailey McKinnon, James Rourke, Travis Rourke, Dawson Dack, Mckenzie Bell, Tucker Dack, Mya Bell, Mason Bell, Merrick Bell, and Madelyn Bell, great grandchildren Stella Payne, Remington Vallance, Stiles Payne, and Sterling Payne. She is also survived by her BFF Ann Hodges. She was preceded in death by parents Walter and Mildred VanBuhler, sister Janice Maudlin, grandchildren Ky Rourke, Ty Rourke, and Nathaniel Payne.

Visitation in memory of Mary Kay will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025 from 1-8pm at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. Her funeral service will be at the Faith Alive Church 2945 Hansen Rd, West Branch on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 11:00am with visitation starting at 10:00am.

Donations in her memory can be made to Claws and Paws Rescue 114 South Valley Street, West Branch, MI, 48661 or to American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, 411 Second Street, Rochester, MN, 55901.