Dovie Mae Riness

Dovie Mae Riness, 78, of Traverse City, passed away Monday, October 29, 2007, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

She was born October 1, 1929, in Plantersville, Mississippi, near Tupelo, to Thomas and Leona (nee Ellis) Wheeler. Her given name was Dovie Mae, but she always went by Mae.

She married Jack Riness June 30, 1948, in Midland after a short courtship. Mrs. Riness was a loving wife and mother, friends said, and she reared her family at Eastlake for several years without electricity, and never had a phone until cell phones came into being.

Mr. and Mrs. Riness were the first family to live at Eastlake year around. She drove the children six miles to catch a school bus every day, until they were old enough to drive.

Mr. Riness was a renowned brick layer and mason, and many of his distinctive stone fireplaces are present in the Trout Lake area. They traveled during the first years of their marriage, following his large contracting jobs, and living in a travel trailer in the '50s.

Mrs. Riness suffered a stroke six years ago, and was cared for by Mr. Riness. They lived in St. Ignace for a few years and moved to Traverse city to be near their son and daughter-in-law and family.

She is survived by her husband, Jack, of Traverse City; her children and their families, Michael and Deborah Riness of Traverse City, Linda and Thomas Higgins of Thornton, Colorado; two sisters and their families, Ann and Kenneth Burnside of Tupelo, Mississippi, Molly and James Maharrey of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois; her grandchildren and their families, Fred Ranallo- Higgins, Joseph Ranallo-Higgins, Diane Higgins-Ranallo, Jessica Riness, Joshua Riness, Jeanna Riness, Jill Riness, Jordan Riness, Jalaura Riness, Joanna Riness, John Riness, and Jane Riness, and her great-grandchildren, Grace Ranallo, Adrian Bembeneck, Julia Miller, Tristan Bembeneck, and Abraham Canfield II.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Alfred Wheeler, all of Tupelo.

Services were held Friday, November 2, at 11 a.m. at Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace with Pastor Michael Riness, her son, officiating. Visitation was Friday morning.

Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery in Trout Lake. Her grandsons served at pallbearers.