July 5, 1928 – September 27, 2018
Marie passed away unexpectedly in Kalamazoo on September 27, 2018. She was born July 5, 1928 to Alfred and Hattie Eveline (Fewkes) Bunting in Flint, Michigan. Marie graduated from Beecher High School, Flint in 1947, the first of the 16 Bunting children to do so. Shortly thereafter she moved to Traverse City, where she met the love of her life, Clayton Arnold. He and Marie were married May 3, 1950 in Kalkaska. Marie was the consummate homemaker. She loved each of her children fiercely and provided a home that was safe and warm and almost always too much fun. While Clayton provided the financial support, Marie carefully nurtured a tribe of children—building tree camps, sewing costumes, binding wounds, harboring animals, painting, cooking, crafting stories, dancing and singing. She often spoke of her childhood and singing with her father in church while he played the guitar. With a vast repertoire of lyrics and melodies, she loved singing, and her rich and vibrant voice still resonates. Marie guided her five children through the ups and downs of adolescence. Always supportive of their endeavors, she on more than one occasion set things straight with ornery teachers, principals, and coaches. She and Clayton attended their children’s sports events, concerts, and plays, and were equally supportive of their children’s friends, welcoming them to engage in family activities. While Marie’s life was full with the task of childrearing, she enjoyed the arts and staying fit. Her passion for creativity was boundless, as was her love of all things living. She built gardens and spent countless hours nurturing seeds. She was highly organized, designing charts that engaged others in the completion of everyday tasks. She had a keen eye for beauty, an aesthetic evident in everything she touched, from pottery and painting to sewing, cooking and even cleaning. She was mother, friend, confidant, warrior and adventurer. She and Clayton enjoyed sailing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and traveling by motorhome across the country—sometimes to visit their children, often to see our great National Parks. Marie is preceded in death by her husband, Clayton, her parents, Alfred and Hattie Bunting, 14 of her 15 siblings, and granddaughter, Maggie Marie Arnold. She is survived by her brother Ted Bunting, children Jared Arnold (Beverly Gregus) of Kalamazoo, Susan Arnold of Tucson, AZ, Daniel Arnold (Sally) of Howell, MI, Sandra Arnold (Randall Sturgis) of Port Townsend, WA and Wade Arnold (Karen) of Byron Center, MI, seven grandchildren & six great grandchildren. A memorial is planned for June 15, 2019 in Traverse City.
