Loraine Mayes

Loraine Martha Mayes age 77 of St. Louis, MI passed away Friday, January 20, 2017 at Masonic Pathways in Alma, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in St. Louis, MI on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 11:30 A.M., with Pastor Terri Bentley officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 23, 2017 from 5-8 P.M and on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes in St. Louis, MI.

Loraine was born in Mt. Pleasant, MI on September 23, 1939, the daughter of J. Allen and Erma (Coburn) Lampman. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School with the class of 1957. Loraine went on to Central Michigan University where she received her Bachelors & Masters Degree in Education. She married Bill Mayes on June 24, 1962 in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Bill passed away on October 14, 2007.

Loraine taught Spanish and English at Rockford High School and St. Louis High School. She was also the guidance counselor at St. Louis High school. She retired from high school teaching in 1967 and went on to teach Continuing Education in St. Louis. She was the director of the Gratiot County Community Foundation retiring in 2002. Loraine was very active at the First United Methodist Church of St. Louis, MI. She participated in Bell Choir, United Methodist Women, Child Study Club, and spent 8 years on the United Methodist Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Loraine enjoyed traveling; she studied in Mexico for two summers and traveled to Germany where she and Bill spent time observing how their schools operated.  She started the Red Hat Society in St. Louis and also the Career Closet. Loraine enjoyed spending time at Eight Point Lake. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

She is survived by her children: Mark Mayes, Todd Mayes, Karin and Mike Baxter, Tomiko Yamashita, grandchildren: Vivica, Alexander, and Micah Baxter, siblings: Pam Jenkins, Marjorie and Kenneth Kelley, Jack and Arleen Lampman and special friend Bill Price. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Bill.

Memorials may be made to the Gratiot Community Foundation 168 East Center Street Ithaca, MI 48847.  Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI.