Pauline Yuvonne Cournyer

Pauline Yuvonne Cournyer of Mio, Michigan died peacefully surrounded by her loving family in her Houston home on November 26, 2024, at the age of 88. Her life was a living example of gratitude, kindness, and love for family, and she considered everyone she met to be a friend.

She was born in Mio, Michigan on July 28, 1936, the daughter of George and Faye Booth and spent the rest of her life in Mio. She graduated from Mio High School in 1954 and married her high school sweetheart, Bayard John “Jack” Cournyer. She worked at Mio Au Sable schools until the late 1960’s then at Kirtland Community College in the President’s office for the rest of her career, retiring around 1991 to enjoy time with family and grandkids. During her time at Kirtland Community College, she made many, many, friends, and especially dear to her were the foreign students who started at Kirtland. When they came to study in the US she became their American mother and remained in close contact with them the rest of her life.

Pauline had a bold and adventurous spirit that inspired everyone she met. It is impossible to list all her talents, hobbies, and interests. She was a photographer, developing most of her own photos in the darkroom in her home. Her pictures were regularly published in the Oscoda County News, a family business. She was the photographer for countless weddings, sporting events, and family gatherings across the county for decades. The collection of her photographs is a chronicle of life in Oscoda County. As a longtime member of the Mio Iris Society, she grew and contributed beautiful arrangements and specimens yearly to their annual show. Pauline loved playing music in church, and never missed out on any musical event. The Michigan Fiddlers’ Association, especially Paul Pothoff and son Steve became a great source of community in her later years leading her to travel with her dear friends across northern Michigan.

Her adventurous nature was not limited to her Michigan hometown. Spending 30+ winters in Houston, Pauline and Jack made many deep friendships. Pauline found a spiritual home in Bellaire United Methodist Church but was also active with friends in many other congregations. She became a docent at the A.D. Players theater, a member of the Bellaire Coin Club and greatly enjoyed the company of her dear friend Beth Jameson.

Her greatest joy was spending time with her loved ones such as fishing with Jack, late night cribbage and pinochle with her sisters and daughters, accompanying her great grandson on the piano, cooking with her great granddaughters, and watching her grandson play golf. She spent many relaxing evenings with the loving Amish community that embraced her and was the “adoptive” mother of an extensive Bengali community in Houston.

Pauline is survived by her daughter Cathleen Gay Riggs and was preceded in death by her husband Bayard John “Jack” Cournyer (2018), and daughter Carlene Mae Allen (2015). She additionally is survived by her loving sons-in-law, Casey Allen, John William Riggs, and three grandsons, Keith Luis Riggs (Jordanna), Kevin David Riggs, and John Bayard Riggs and three great-grandchildren Theodore Joseph Riggs, Hazel Carlene Riggs, and Rosalie Kay Riggs. Pauline also wanted us to remember the family of Hasan and Nahida “Panna” Syed and their children Sumaiyah, Suraiyah and Safwan who adopted her as honorary mother for all these years. She spent her final days in her winter home in Houston with all her extended family and friends reflecting on the many great things she had done with them.

The family would like to recognize Traditions Health Hospice Care staff Jody Reyna RN, and Jennifer Shepherd, Aide, for their loving care of Mom in her last days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bellaire United Methodist Church, 4417 Bellaire Blvd, on December 2, 2024 at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be sent to Kirtland Community College Foundation https://www.kirtland.edu/foundation/donate/