Evelyn Ann Alley

Affectionately known as Ann, all those who had contact with her will remember her kind, compassionate, caring and giving nature. She was the best listening ear to all of her friends and employees who worked for her over many years. Her father was Claude McHenry and her mother Sadie Rabideau McHenry. She is survived by her son Tom Alley. Also by four grandchildren; Amy Alley Mendenhall of Tennessee, James Alley of California, Pamela Alley Seckinger of Georgia, Michael Alley of West Branch and by three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother William McHenry of Linwood and her sisters Virginia Fournier of Sebewaing, Betty Johnston of Alma and Dorothy Kenny of Sebewaing. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Alley in 1980, her son James Alley in 1987 and her brother Herb McHenry. She was born in Detroit and later the family moved to Unionville and purchased a farm. At age 16 she graduated valedictorian from Gagetown High School. At age 18 she entered nursing school at Mt. Clemens' St. Josephs Hospital earning her RN Degree in three years graduating at the top of her class. On a scholarship she entered Mt. St. Joseph College in Cincinnati where she earned her BS Degree in education allowing her to teach nursing. While working as a nurse in Yale, Michigan, she met Frank Alley. They married in 1941 at St. Joseph Church in West Branch and then moved to Pinconning. Over the years, they owned the Sportsmans Bar, Pinconning Dry Cleaners and the California Inn, a bar, restaurant and hotel. In 1959, they moved to West Branch to operate the West Branch County Club kitchen and dining room. Later they opened the first snowmobile sales in northeast Michigan and then opened Frank Alley's Pickin Chicken Restaurant and Take-Out. Ann was an avid sportswoman and was considered a fine shot on pheasants and deer. She enjoyed snowmobiling and loved a good game of poker. Visitation at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will be on Tuesday January 31, 2006 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday February 1, 2006 at St. Joseph Church at 11:00 am. Father Miro D. Weise OFM will officiate with burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at a later date.