Mary Ellen Curley

Mary Ellen Curley died on February 15, 2025, in Lansing MI. Mary was born on December 13, 1940, in Lansing, MI, to Eldon and Evelyn Sears. She grew up in Lansing. Mary attended Foster Elementary School, Pattengill Junior High, and graduated from Lansing Eastern High School. She worked at Woolworth and Melville Emblem but spent the last 30 years of her work life at Williams Auto World as a service writer. She enjoyed interacting with her customers and had close relationships with many of her co-workers, which she maintained after retirement.

She married Robert A. Curley on 11/7/1959. They had three children together.

Mary was a very gifted seamstress. She loved sewing, and her homemade teddy bears were cherished by those who received them. She also made many beautiful baby blankets and quilts. Mary also spent many years making ceramic pieces that are treasured by her family. If anybody knows the Curley family, you know that playing cards is a must. Mary enjoyed card parties and playing cards with her friends. She won her fair share of the prizes. Mary was an excellent cook and her food was enjoyed by all.

Above all, Mary was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and co-worker. She had a kind and generous heart. She would be the first one to show up to any family or friend in need. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and donated her time and talent to many community organizations.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, Eldon and Evelyn Sears and her brother, Robert (Dodie) Sears, her brother- in- law Ken Schieding as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.

Her memory will be cherished by her daughter, Cherie (Rich) Ballor, daughter, Heather (Jay) Lee, and son, Mike (Kris) Curley. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Mary Ballor and Jacob (Mae) Ballor, Jamie (Harrison) Lee, Travis (Dominique) Curley, Katie (Scott) Curley, Erika (Garrett) Scott. Mary was lucky enough to know the joy of a great grandchild, Walker. Mary is also survived by her sister, Heather Schieding, Kendra (Wayne) Compton, Patrick (Elizabeth) Schieding and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Greater Lansing Food Bank or Toys for Tots Lansing.