Mary Lou Landrum, lived 88 years, before congestive heart failure ended her life on earth. She slipped away to heaven Thursday, December 2, 2021 with loving care givers at Woodland Hospice House of Mt. Pleasant. She had lived for many years in Midland prior her move into hospice.

Born on January 24, 1933 in Mentor Ohio, Mary Lou was the oldest child of Albert John and Mary Anne (Gay) Roemer. Mary Lou attended primary school in Marion Michigan and graduated from Evart Public Schools in 1951.

Mary Lou’s love of sending cards started at the beginning of WW11 through the Korean War. Her mailing list included her uncles as well as her cousins who were serving in the armed services during that time.

Mary Lou met her future husband, Calvin Landrum, during her senior year of high school when her cousin invited her to go on a blind date with her and her boyfriend. A few years after graduation, she again met Cal while home visiting her parents for the weekend and the second time seems to have been the charm as it began a more than fifty-year love affair. She and Cal were married June 11, After 15 years of marriage Mary Lou’s only child was born, a son, Jonathan Calvin and he was the joy of their life. As an adult, Jonathan became God-parent to twins Mariana and Meridian Schram and their little sister Autumn. Mary Lou and Cal were invited into the family’s many gatherings from the time the girls were infants on through their adulthood. They ‘adopted’ Mary Lou and Cal as grandparents to the girls and it brought them deep joy and much happiness over the years.

Mary Lou continued sending cards to various friends and relatives through the years and it became her ministry of love to the many individuals who were on the receiving end. She always wanted just the right card for each individual and would never settle for second best, spending many happy hours in various card shops. She had a mailing list of over a hundred for major holidays. She loved receiving cards every bit as much as sending them and felt that a card was better than any gift. Her other love was taking pictures and making gift albums of events for family members.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Calvin, their son Jonathan, and a niece Julie Balcom.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, December 6, 2021 at Smith-Miner Funeral Home with Rev. James M. Barnhart officiating. Friends may visit with the family 12:00 pm until the time of service.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Woodland Hospice Home.

Smith-Miner Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Landrum family; to share a special memory please visit www.smithminer.com.