Mary Billings

Born on July 4, 1933, in Lansing, to immigrant parents from Belgium and Russia, she graduated from high school in 1952 and then attended Lansing L.P.N. School, graduating in 1953, then attended nursing school in Saginaw, Michigan.

Married to Alan J. Billings on Nov. 6, 1954, they lived at Pontiac Lake Rec. Area, where Alan was the assistant manager. They then moved to Higgin’s Lake State Park, where Alan was the assistant park manager.

They moved to Lake Gogebic State Park, where Alan was promoted to manager in 1956. Their son James A. was born in Wakefield in 1958.

The family moved to Ft. Wilkins State Park in 1963, where Alan was manager after “Mac” Frimodig, until 1967, when they moved to Otsego Lake State Park in Gaylord, Michigan.

Mary owned and operated Gaylord Ceramics and Giftware from 1974-84, when Alan retired from the DNR. The family then moved back to Copper Harbor and opened “Swede’s Gift Shop and Keweenaw Minerals,” which she ran until July, 2018, retiring due to having suffered a stroke and heart attack.

After being admitted to Canal View for physical rehabilitation several times, she was permanently a client there from October, 2022, until her death.

Mary was a multiple cancer survivor and like her husband Al, never complained and always sought to help those in need.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Copper Harbor Cemetery.