Obituary: Mary Lou Utt

As received from the  Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

Mary Lou (Ford) Utt passed away at the Omega House on August 20, 2020 at the age of 93.  Born to Fredrick and Bernice (Seibert) Ford on April 24, 1927 in Marysville, Kansas as their only child.  Her husband Glenn Utt of 72 years passed away five months prior on March 28, 2020.  Mary Lou is survived by their only child Jan (Utt) Lubinski and her husband Gary of Chassell MI.  Three grandchildren Mike Lubinski and Melissa and their children Tyler, Grant and Morgan of Houghton, MI; Jack Lubinski of Chicago, IL; and Mia (Lubinski) Bidle and Geoff of Green Bay, WI.

Mary Lou attended Kansas State University and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While she completed her 2 year degree, she met and fell in love with Glenn who also attended K-State fresh from serving in WWII.  Soon after she married Glenn on August 8, 1948 and together, they were off to Harvard University where Mary helped support Glenn as he received his MBA.  Glenn’s degree opened doors of opportunity to this small town girl that she truly enjoyed.  Together, they lived and traveled throughout Europe and finally settling in Paris for several years.  While in Europe, they discovered and collected artwork that was new and unique to them which led to a lifelong pursuit of collecting the glass artworks of Rene Lalique.  As Rene’s work was not well documented, this led to Glenn and Mary Lou co-authoring a book on Rene Lalique’s perfume bottles published in 1990 after Glenn’s early retirement.  Mary Lou was proud to share their perfume collection at museums as far away as Japan.

Mary Lou enjoyed being by Glenn’s side whether attending corporate functions, traveling throughout the world, raising German Shepard’s or a shelter dog, cooking a meal, or spending time hosting their grandchildren at their California home.  As the years passed, they followed Jan and Gary to Houghton as time with their grandchildren was precious.  Mary had an ability to meet and make friends, a sharp eye for bird watching, the patience for making a dress, and the patience to just enjoy the moment.  In her later years walking her dog Buddy was always special and she met many Houghton friends that way.  In their last few years Mary Lou and Glenn were very thankful to call Gardenview Assisted Living facility in Calumet home, where their care givers and other residents became friends.  To honor Glenn and Mary Lou their prayers will be shared as their ashes are spread into the wind at a family gathering in Chassell.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family the family with the arrangements.