During the Great Depression, Lewis Maue Cleveland and Dorothy Isabelle Fenner were married on December 27th, 1934, and had their first of three children which was a beautiful baby girl whose name was Marlene Dorothy Cleveland, born on December 30th 1935. They resided on a small farm in Martin, Michigan where Marlene grew up with a younger sister and brother, Joyce and Donald. They all got along great with Marlene showing the way as to how to complete all the farm chores or get into mischief. They lived a simple life and enjoyed country living, learning about hard work and fun play time. 

Stories of going to the “Big City” of Kalamazoo to visit their Aunt Hazel (Cleveland) Saye and Aunt Bernyce Cleveland was an exciting and big deal back then! She attended Martin Methodist Church where she was still an elder member til the day she passed away. She was an excellent student while she attended Martin Rural Agricultural School where she enjoyed singing in the chorus and played the clarinet in the band. Before graduating there in 1954 she met a handsome fellow named Donald J. Mentzer and they dated and fell in love. Donald graduated in 1951 and went into the United States Navy for two years and they continued their relationship and ended up getting married on June 10th, 1955. 

Together, Donald and Marlene, affectionately known as "Molly," welcomed two children, Julie and Jeffrey. Julie was born in Kalamazoo and Jeffrey was born in Chicago as Donald accepted a position as a boiler operator with Jewel T there. After a year, an opportunity to become Chief Engineer at the Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac General Motors plant brought the family back to Kalamazoo.

In 1969, Donald and Molly had a new family home built near Cooper, just south of Plainwell, where they would make many wonderful memories. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and pretty much stained every piece of trim and the interior doors while the guys worked on the plumbing and wiring stuff. She enjoyed being a stay at home mom and was an excellent cook and baker. Later in life cookies were her specialty! She was a seamstress and enjoyed sewing clothes and mending things. She excelled at many things like counted cross stitch and knitting and even found fun painting rooms and hanging wallpaper. She was a busy mom carting the kids to and from sporting events and band activities. She took great pride in watching them play or compete. 

Molly inherited her caring nature from her mother and carried that gift throughout her entire life. She had a special way of making people feel remembered and loved. She faithfully sent handwritten cards, notes, and letters in her beautiful cursive handwriting, always finding a reason to reach out to celebrate an accomplishment, offer encouragement, or simply let someone know she was thinking of them. 

There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't wake up and ask herself: "What can I do for someone today?" Those words were more than a question; they were a reflection of the way Molly lived her life. 

Her faith was deeply important to her, and her card ministry was a particularly meaningful part of that faith. She found joy in reaching out to others, offering comfort, celebrating life's milestones, and reminding people they were loved. Thoughtful, generous, and genuinely caring, Molly was one of a kind. She was also known for giving the best hugs. 

Above all else, Molly treasured her family. They were her greatest joy and the center of her life. Her love was woven into the countless everyday things she did for those around her, and the memories she leaves behind will continue to bring comfort and smiles to those who knew and loved her. 

Molly is survived by her sister, Joyce Brannock; her brother, Donald Cleveland, and his wife, Suzanne; and their children Sarah (Mike) Savage and their children Harper and Brady and Laura (Jeff) Astarabadi and their child Ava. Julie Mentzer and Jeffrey Mentzer and his wife, Judi (Curtiss) and their children Kristin Oesch (Jeffrey’s daughter) and her three sons, Cameron, Broderick, and Sullivan; Tyler Kingsbury (Judi’s son) and his wife, Kaylie (Stanbery), and their daughters, Zoey and Nora; and Lauren (Kingsbury) Carpenter (Judi’s daughter) and her husband, Samuel, and their daughter, Lucy. 

Molly's legacy is one of faith, family, kindness, and a lifetime of putting others first. She will be remembered not only for all that she did, but for how she made people feel: welcomed, cared for, encouraged, and loved. Her letters, notes and cards may stop arriving, but the love behind every one of them will never be forgotten.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, November 9th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Plainwell. A Funeral service will take place on Tuesday, November 10th at 11:00 a.m. at the Martin United Methodist Church; 969 E Allegan St, Martin, MI 49070.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Martin United Methodist Church Food Pantry or Christian Neighbors. 

While visiting Molly’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).