Evelyn M. Stier

Evelyn Marie (Ford) Stier August 30, 1939 – September 21, 2025

Our family is heartbroken to announce Evelyn (Ev) Marie (Ford) Stier left us and went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Evelyn was born August 30th, 1939 in the heart of Detroit. In 1953 her father Edward Ford, moved the entire family “way up north” to a farm near Richmond. Ev attended St. Augustine School in Richmond, graduating in 1957.There she met her future husband, William(Bill) Stier. Ev and Bill were married at St. Augustine Church on August 27th, 1960. After living in several different places in southeast Michigan, they made the bold decision to move the whole family “Much Farther Way Up North”- to Grand Marais during the summer of 1974.

Sadly, and very suddenly, Ev and the family lost Bill in 1977. Ev was left to raise theirfive children a long way from the rest of her family while continuing to fight her battle against rheumatoid arthritis that began when she was 25. At this point in her life, she dug even deeper into herfaith which gave her incredible courage and the internal strength to continue in her unwavering and sacrificial love for her family. She did an amazing job of raising her children!

As the kids began to grow up and move on, Ev knew that she was going to need to take steps to prepare for her future. In the summer of 1982,Ev moved with two of her children, Amy and Eric, to Marquette so she could attend Northern Michigan University. In 1986, at the spry young age of 46, Evadded a Bachelor ofArts in Elementary Education degree to her list of accomplishments!With Eric graduating from high school that year and heading off to college, there was nothing holding her in the Upper Peninsula, and she decided to move back to Richmond to be near family. She accepted a teaching position where it all began… at St. Augustine School! What an amazing full-circle journey! Ev taught at St. A’s until she retired in 1997.

Ev loved to watch Jeopardy, play pinochle with her family (or anyone else that wanted to take a shot at dethroning her!). She loved to research family history, read, and “just visit” with family and friends. She had an amazing ability with people—she could always find a way to connect with anyone fortunate enough to cross her path.No matter what life threw at Ev, she took it on.Through all the challenges in her life, she relied on her strong faith,while always being focused on her family. To her final day, she lived her life with a NEVER QUIT attitude which she instilled in her kids and which inspired everyone who knew her. In this and everything, she lived following Christ and believing, "He who began a good work in you will complete it,” (Philippians 1:6). Having lived a life of love with and through great loss and pain, she is now fully complete.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband William (Bill) Stier, her parents Edward and Josephine (Selter) Ford, her sister Eleanor, her mother- and father-in-law, Elmer and Margaret (Varty) Stier, and her sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Agostino and Shirley Garzelloni.

Evelyn is survived by her siblings James (Barbara) Ford, Charles David(Monique) Ford, Carol (Daniel) Tardiff,and Barb Ford; and her sister-in-law CaroleFichtner.

Evelyn is also survived by her five children and their spouses: Cathy (Tomas) Howie, Tim (Diane) Stier, Mike (Theresa, or TC) Stier, Amy (Pete) Snyder, and Eric (Amy) Stier. She was also blessed with 15 grandchildren and their spouses: Jonathan Howie, and Christopher (Deanne) Howie; Justin Stier, Sean (Samantha) Stier, and Nina Mangano; Ashley (Mark) Riley, and Sydney Stier; Sarah Snyder, Erin (Zachary) Zitnik, Anna (Jonathan) Romero, Daniela (Christopher) Maynard, Andrés Snyder, Alexander (Delaney) Snyder, and Joshua Snyder; William (Jillian) Stier, and Maya Stier. Her legacy continues on throughher 13 great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Elizabeth, and Elinor Howie; Kyler, Willow, Juniper, and Baby Stier; Jocelyn and Connor Riley; Graham Zitnik; Caleb and Isaac Romero; and Baby Maynard.

Visitation and a memorial service for Evelyn will take place on October 2, 2025 at Stoney Church, 11711 26-Mile Rd, Washington Twp., 48094. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM. After the service, family and friends are invited to a luncheon at the church.

For those wanting to honor Ev, the family prefers donations be made in her name to St. Augustine Schoolin lieu of flowers. The family and school will use the donations to purchase a tangible gift that reflects Ev’s commitment to children and education. Make checks payable to St. Augustine Catholic School, 67901 Howard St, Richmond, MI 48062, and write “Evelyn Stier Memorial Fund” on the memo. Envelopes will also be available at visitation and the service for this purpose.