Obituaries

Martha "Mardi" May Maxwell

Martha “Mardi” May Maxwell of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Ferndale, Michigan, age 85, passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Chelsea Retirement Community in Glazier Commons. She was born on December 14, 1940, in Xenia, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. O. Worth and Catherine May. Her great spirit of survival was exposed early in the wake of her premature birth, weighing in at under two pounds.

Mardi grew up in Beckley, West Virgina, with her parents and three younger sisters. After graduating high school, she pursued higher education, earning her bachelor's degree from Duke University, and master's degrees from Case Western before embarking upon her career in social work. Mardi was married to Rev. James “Jim” Henry Maxwell who preceded her in death on November 5, 2025. Mardi was introduced to Jim when he began his ministry as assistant to Rev. May (Mardi’s father) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, Kentucky. Mardi and Jim merged their lives easily with shared dedication to serving others in need, and through love of family and their faith in God. Mardi and Jim were married in 1965 and last year they celebrated 60 years of marriage together. Over the years, Mardi moved with Jim as he was called to serve in different churches (Philadelphia, Pocono’s), until finally settling in Ferndale, Michigan (1978). Having stayed home with her children previously, in 1980, Mardi returned to work with those in need, first working with developmentally disabled residents of Wayne County, then pregnant teens (through Catholic Social Services) and finally with at-risk children at the Children’s Home of Detroit.

Patricia Ann Thomas

Patricia Ann Thomas of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Ann Arbor, and Whitmore Lake, age 81, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born December 21, 1944, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of William Edwin and Adeline Marie (Shanahan) Rowan, Jr.

Patricia graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, class of 1963. She attended both the Faith Baptist Church in Chelsea, and Dexter Gospel Church. She worked in Food Service at the University of Michigan. Patricia had a lifelong love of singing and Patsy Cline. Her karaoke friends and family fondly called her “Patsy.” Patricia was a spark of sunshine, always with a big smile that lit up a room. She was a people person and cared deeply for others, putting them before herself.

Dana Jo-Mary Allan

Dana Jo-Mary Allan, of Grass Lake, Michigan, formerly of Scio Township, Michigan passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital at the age of 70. She was born on June 5, 1956, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Raymond Charles Tomshack and Laura Helen (Bergl) Dobranski.

Dana lived a life filled with kindness, compassion, and love for others. She had a caring heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand, whether checking on a neighbor, baking for a fundraiser, creating handmade items for a cause, or simply offering a smile and a listening ear. She had a special way of making people feel loved and appreciated.

After graduating high school, Dana began her career with the State of Michigan at Michigan Rehabilitation after being recruited directly out of high school. She later worked as a medical secretary in several physicians’ offices before joining the team at Waterloo Village Market. No matter where she worked, Dana was known for her warmth, dedication, and genuine care for those around her.

Norman Lee Somers

Norman “Norm” Somers, age 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC). He was born on August 13, 1938, in Elk Rapids, Michigan, to Richard Ivan and Doris Ellen (Davis) Somers.

To know Norm was to know someone who found joy in the simple things, never met a stranger, and always had another story to tell. He believed life was meant to be lived with gratitude, laughter, and kindness. One of his favorite sayings summed him up perfectly: “Sadness is not part of my dictionary—joy and happiness are.” Those words weren’t just something he said—they were the way he lived.

Norm graduated from Northville High School in 1956 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Ferris Institute in 1961. But before settling into his lifelong career, he chased a dream. In the spring of 1957, he signed on as a Great Lakes Seaman, working aboard iron ore freighters, including the J.P. Morgan Jr. The Lakes gave him adventures and stories that he shared as a Snipit in life.