Ramona Sorrell Marley Age 85

Beloved wife of the late Donald C. Loving mother of Linda (William) Smith, Dennis (Cindy) Marley, Diana (Ron Harrington) Marley. Cherished Granny of Bradley, Timothy, Elizabeth, Geoffrey, Laura, Michael, Shawn, Heather and Scott. Beloved great grandmother of 10. Loving sister of June Bartling, Stephen Sorrell and the late Richard Sorrell. Best friend of Colletta Donnelly.

When Ramona Marley heard or read something that amused her, her laughter would spread to those around her who had no recourse but to join in on whatever it was that she found so funny. It was a personality trait that separated her from everyone else. Her outgoing personality and refusal to engage with small-minded individuals (as well as a restless attitude that popped up time and again) endeared her to the friends she made in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and left an indelible mark on her family, especially her grandchildren.

She will be remembered as one of the rare Granny's who played baseball with the grandkids on the front lawn of her house in Suburban Brookston, whacking bees out of the air with a plastic baseball bat if they tried to interfere with their game.

During family visits to The Farm, she would always have freshly made sugar cookies with colorful icing waiting to be eaten by the grandkids, but not before she smothered them with smooches. It was a fair price to pay to get to those cookies.

And when her and Papa went too long without seeing their grandkids, they took the time to record cassette tapes and send to the families in Michigan and Virginia to keep them updated on their daily interactions with "Dick Shick from Across the Crick" or the latest bear sightings.

We imagine she's sitting on a beach somewhere in Hawaii with the Big D, enjoying a laugh and thinking about us.

Memorial visiting Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 2-8 PM at the John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home, 1139 Inkster Rd., Garden City (Between Ford Rd. and Cherry Hill).

Family suggests memorials to Salvation Army.