Mary Alice Ralph (Smiley)

Ralph, Mary Alice (Dawson) (Smiley) Bay City, Michigan Mary Alice died on May 23, 2015 at the age of 81. She was born on July 28, 1933, the eldest daughter of the late Kathryn (Stevenson) and Thomas Dawson. She graduated from Bay City Central High School and later attended Michigan State University. She married her high school sweetheart, William (Bill) Smiley and they had three children; Kathlyn (Lyn) Spindler (Dave), Thomas (Laura) Smiley and Timothy (Gaye) Smiley. They had seven wonderful grandchildren; Cody and Geoff Smiley, Kirk, Erik and Kara Spindler, and Kristina and Kelly Smiley. They ultimately had eight great grandchildren. After graduating from MSU, Bill went to St. Charles to start his coaching and teaching career. This school was followed by St. Johns, and finally, the family went to Bay City Handy, where he coached and taught science. Mary Alice taught in the elementary school one year in St. Charles, five years at St. Johns, and in Bay City she taught art in the seventh and eighth grades at Washington School. After that year, she went to Dorland Elementary and taught fourth grade until that school closed. Mary Alice then taught at Auburn Elementary until she retired in 1994. In 1979, Mary Alice and her husband bought a dog called a Keeshond that completely changed their lives. The breed was little known at that time. He was a beautiful dog and they were encouraged to show him. He became an AKC and Canadian champion pretty quickly. From here, they began breeding, training and successfully showing their dogs, producing many champions. This led to becoming very involved in the Midland Kennel Club. Mary Alice worked very hard to help the club to become AKC sanctioned so they could put on their own shows. The club grew and began to offer training classes. Mary Alice then taught Puppy and Beginning obedience classes. Besides training she had the opportunity to judge at puppy matches and specialty shows. Showing their dogs throughout the U.S. and Canada, they met many people who became good friends. Mary Alice began illustrating the Michigan Keeshond Newsletter, which led to illustrating the national magazine called the Keezette. This, in turn, led to drawing logos for clubs and individuals, as well as commissions for painting pet portraits. She illustrated several dog books including "The Complete Keeshond" by Cash and "The Illustrated Guide" for judges. The national All-Breed magazine called the AKC Gazette also contained her drawings. Many clubs of various breeds asked Bill (who made creative and beautiful articles of wood) to make awards that were painted by Mary Alice for their specialty shows. Bill died in 1995. This put an end to their breeding program. Mary Alice continued to work at the shows, Ring Stewarding, training and judging the dogs. Her volunteering increased at her church, St. John's Episcopal in Midland. Besides teaching Sunday school, working on the altar guild and taking care of altar flowers, she took part in many other projects that came up. Reading, cruising with a good friend and former teacher, working on her home, painting, decorating, planting flowers and of course, working with the dogs, filled her days. Mary Alice was predeceased by her parents, husband, daughter, granddaughter and two sisters, Norma Dawson and Dorothy (Hawley) Dixon. She is survived by a brother, William (Joanne) Dawson, and a sister, Kathleen (Robert) Baughman. She has many nieces and nephews. In 2008, Mary Alice married James (Banks) Ralph. Her first husband had played high school football against him at Bay City Handy and later coached with him (at B.C. Handy). Mary Alice felt it was a blessing to be part of his life, and his delightful family. His children are Susan (Lance) Ralph, Jane Ralph, Ray (Sherry) Ralph, Becky (Charlie) Stinson and Ruth Tuma. She had seven step-grandchildren; Shelly, Joseph (deceased), Levi, Colton, Rayferd, Casey, Courtney, Little Charlie, Jacob and Justine. She has four step-great grandchildren. Mary Alice wanted to acknowledge the incredible care she received through the many years from Dr. Hurtubise, Pam and his staff. For this, she was eternally grateful. At the request of Mary Alice cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church (405 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland, MI 48640) on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Officiating will be the Rev. Mary J. Schuetz. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. on Wednesday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. and until the time of services. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.