Chris Alan Russell, beloved husband, father, Grandad, and faithful servant of Christ, entered his heavenly home on April 8th at the age of 67. Surrounded by his loving family, he peacefully transitioned from this life into the arms of his Lord and Savior.
Born on January 6, 1958, in Dearborn, Michigan, Chris was raised in Taylor, where he met the love of his life, Mary Lou. They were married on August 3, 1979, and shared 45 wonderful years together.
Chris is survived by his devoted wife Mary Lou, their four children—Tara, Emily (Blair), Charley (Sarah), and Chris Jr. (Erin)—and nine cherished grandchildren: Russell, Ryan, Dane, Ava, Jacob, Riley, Gavin, Paul, and Faith. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Wanda Carroll; his sister, Janine (Steve); and brothers Mike (Bonnie) and Jeff (Joanne). He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Nadine Russell, and his father-in-law, William Carroll.
Chris was a proud and dedicated Millwright at Ford Motor Co. and a UAW member of Local 845 for 40 years. He was respected for his strong work ethic, craftsmanship, and camaraderie with his co-workers. After retiring in 2016, Chris and Mary Lou became snowbirds spending their winters in Gold Canyon, Arizona. There they enjoyed the warm weather, new friendships, and daily walks surrounded by breathtaking landscapes of the Superstition Mountains.
Summers were spent in the Upper Peninsula, where Chris and his sons built a beloved family cabin on Lake Milakokia—his “happy place.” He loved quiet mornings listening to loons, watching for eagles, and grilling his famous B.A.B.’s for all to enjoy. He had a love of cooking and no one went hungry on his watch. He enjoyed the beautiful sunsets, evening games of five crowns, and time spent with family and friends.
He had a remarkable gift for making people laugh, always ready with a quick wit or a great story that lifted the spirits of everyone around him. Chris brought joy and laughter wherever he went.
He was also a man of deep faith and, alongside Mary Lou, a devoted member of the Gold Canyon Church of Christ. His love for God shone through in his kindness, generosity, and the way he treated others. Chris will be deeply missed, but his legacy lives on in the family he cherished and the countless lives he touched.
2 Timothy 4: 7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
I’m so glad I got to know him more when me and Mom came to visit in Arizona. I could see he loved nature like me. He was maybe the best host I’ve ever known. May the love of family and sweet memories be of comfort to all who loved him.
When I think of “track parent”, Chris is who I think of. He loved watching his kids and their friends compete. He would say, “Attack, Attack, Attack!” He was a huge help to us through the years!! He made a difference and will be missed!
Prayers of peace to the whole family!
My heart is with you. My prayer is that you will find the peace within that God will give you each day. Stay close to Him and close to each other as you support each other in the days ahead. Find comfort in knowing many are praying for you all. Love to you, Emmy
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family. Chris was such a wonderful person, we always loved his humor and kindness. May you rest in peace
I am so very sorry to hear of Chris’s passing. I went to school with Mike and my brother Bob and Chris were friends. I do believe Chris was the one we gave our piano too which was in our basement on Huron street, in Taylor. What a beautiful obituary you have shared. So very sorry for your loss. I will pass this along to my brother Bob Snell.
To marylou and all the families
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband and father. He was a good man and will truly be missed
Oh how sorry to hear this news but how glad we were to hear of Chris’s strong faith. He was a special person at Fords and with UAW local 845. and a joy to work with. Mr Bob( Harper) , I’m sure, has greeted him in heaven. Bob thought the world of Chris. My prayers are with Chris’ family.
Uncle Chris will be so missed. I’ll always remember his good humor and big bear hugs. He’s survived by so many who loved and will remember him. Love, Katelyn, Charles and Charlie
Chris was the wonderful kid who lived across the street who always looked out for my son, Greg. You were one of the best right from the beginning. Rest in Peace your journey is finished.
Chris was always a pleasure to work with @ Sheldon Rd. Prayers for his family
Sending all my love and prayers to Marylou and her babies! Those amazing 4 children they raised!! I was very lucky to be part of their Family even though I was just a neighbor in Dearborn Hts.
Williams Street holds tons of Memories with The Russells! I love you all xoxo
Sending lots of love to Mary Lou and family.
I met Chris while working at the Ford Flat Rock assembly plant. Chris was the kind of genuine welcoming person that when you first meet him you feel like you have known him all your life. I cherish the times at work where he would have me laughing so hard I would choke up my coffee out of my nose! He always had an encouraging word and a lively positive attitude. He was an excellent worker and even a greater human being who I am glad to have called “friend”. I’m grateful that I got to spend and idyllic day visiting and reminiscing with him last summer at his Lake Milakokia home. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Russell family.
My dear old friend, life keeps us busy and time flies by, but I remember and cherish all the good times we had together,rest in peace my friend
Laura and I send our sincere condolences to Mary Lou and the Russell Family. Chris was an extremely kind and generous friend and neighbor, and we will miss him. We will remember Chris for his benevolent spirit. May God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, comfort you during this time of loss.
I remember Chris from high school. I did not know him well but I do remember him as being one of the funniest people I ever met. His humor was never mean-spirited and he made Geometry class bearable. My sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace and may his family find peace in all the wonderful memories you have of him.
Growing up Chris and I lived in the same neighborhood and went to the same Taylor schools from where we became friends early on. Although I had not seen Chris for many, many years, I thought of him often and fondly remembered how funny he was, always having us in stitches. A few years ago, he reached out to me while we were both living in AZ but at the time I was in the process of moving to NC, so regrettably we were never able to connect again. He was such a kind, wonderful person and so loved his wife Mary and family. Deepest condolences to Mary and family.
We will miss Chris. We all loved him❤️. May God comfort Mary Lou, his children, and Wanda.
Chris was a true servant of the Lord and a great guy to be around. He loved his family so much and we will miss seeing him at Gold Canyon when we return this winter. Our hearts and prayers are with Mary Lou and the family.
What a wonderful man! He displayed love in so many ways. I love’d how he always took time at church to listen to my 94 year old mother. Fond memories @ Church and the Cafe
A great man of God and disciple of Jesus! His family was super blessed to have him as a spiritual leader and physical protector! What a Testament to modern masculinity while balancing his family’s need for tender affection. I will truly miss Chris, beloved brother in Christ!
Great friend of many years, will cherish the many good times we had working together, deepest sympathy for Mary Lou, and family
It is with a very heavy heart that we send our condolences to Mary Lou, Chris Jr., Emily, Tara, Charley, Wanda and the whole extended family on the loss of their beloved Chris. My husband, Mike, our sons Devon and Logan, and I all loved Chris dearly. He was such a kind, generous, and incredibly thoughtful friend and neighbor and he always felt like family to us. If god could create a mold for the perfect friend and neighbor it would be based on Chris. Chris was a true angel. Chris was always so giving of his time and insisted on picking up my husband and I each and every time we were flying into Arizona and then he’d take us back to the airport. Chris was always helping us with odd jobs around our house and even tried to teach our son Logan how to be more handy because none of us are handy at all. Chris would regularly bring us treats such as ice cream, sausages, Barros Pizza and more just because he was thinking of us. Chris knew we loved to hike so he made us each beautiful walking sticks. Chris was also the friend I phoned when I got a flat tire and was stranded at night at the side of the highway. Chris jumped in and was so happy to help. He and Mary Lou also would invite our other son Devon and his girlfriend Anu over for meals when we were out of town. Chris was also one of those special friends who always took the time to reach out to each of us when we were not in town. He always made time for us and always stayed connected. I could go on and on about all the incredibly thoughtful and generous things Chris ever did for us. The magical thing about Chris is that I know he did the same for many others. He was a true gem of a friend!!! We loved spending time with Chris because he was the funniest person with such a wonderful sense of humor. Plus, he had such a passion for his Lions football team. We’d watch football together at our home every Sunday after Chris was finished at church and even though we are super loyal to our team we were rooting for his Lions to win the Super Bowl this year so that Chris could finally see his team win. Chris, we love you buddy and feel blessed to have known you. We will always cherish each of those magical memories we all made together. Thank you for sharing your heart with us! You were a one of a kind friend and we miss you so much and Gold Canyon will never be the same without you.
I am deeply saddened by this news. I haven’t seen Chris in many years but I was fortunate enough (and blessed) to watch him grow from infancy to adulthood. what a great kid, and an even greater adult. I recall many conversations with his mom she counldn’t stop bragging about Chris and his many accomplishments. And she was right. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the Russells, especially Mary Lou.
Mike, Jeff and Janine, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sometimes in your life God puts the best kind of people in your life even if just for a little while to prove he loves you. God put Chris in my life at Gold Canyon church of Christ for the purpose of making me a better person. I considered Chris as one of my mentors in Christ. It won’t be too long and I’ll join you around the throne of God forever. watch for me!
Sometimes in your life God puts the best kind of people in your life even if just for a little while to prove he loves you. God put Chris in my life at Gold Canyon church of Christ for the purpose of making me a better person. I considered Chris as one of my mentors in Christ. It won’t be too long and I’ll join you around the throne of God forever. watch for me!
Rest in peace Friend. I had the pleasure of working with Chris on and off for over 20 years. Fun loving guy, hard worker, great team leader. There wasn’t a job he didn’t want to tackle. God Speed & May God Bless the Russell family.
Brother Chris was a good Man of Great Integrity! He deeply Loved his Wife, Mary Lou, their Children, Grandchildren and entire Family!
The Carson family will continue to keep the family in our thoughts and prayers!
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
We first met Chris and Mary Lou when we purchased the property nextdoor to them on Milakokia Lake in 2016. From the very beginning they made us feel like family. Offering tools we forgot at home, keeping us updated on all the latest lake/town news, watching our kids when someone almost cut off their finger and we had to make a trip to the ER… He was always available whenever we needed something whether we were back home or nextdoor. Summers were spent with boat/jetski rides, riding the trails he made with the 4wheeler, 5 crowns and lots of ice cream. So many wonderful memories were made and the summers up there just won’t be the same without him. Chris was a great man and we will forever hold these memories close to our hearts. Our love and prayers go out to Mary Lou, the kids and all the family.
Chris and Mary Lou always brought a joy to the members of Gold Canyon Church of Christ.
Ruth and I always enjoyed the laughter that Chris brought to us every time he came in for the summer months. On many occasions, I would tease Chris about dealing with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. He would always laugh and said he could handle anything that they might think of..
There are those at the church who have lost their loved ones and we are familiar with the pain of that loss.
We will miss Chris and we want Mary Lou and the family to know that we will always love and pray for all of them.
God’s blessings and comfort to them all, Amen!
Rest in peace, dear Chris.
Dear Mary Lou and Family
Bill & I are so very sorry to hear of Chris’ passing. I pray that Mary Lou and the rest of his wonderful family find peace in dealing with the pain of losing such a loved one. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m so glad I got to know him more when me and Mom came to visit in Arizona. I could see he loved nature like me. He was maybe the best host I’ve ever known. May the love of family and sweet memories be of comfort to all who loved him.
When I think of “track parent”, Chris is who I think of. He loved watching his kids and their friends compete. He would say, “Attack, Attack, Attack!” He was a huge help to us through the years!! He made a difference and will be missed!
Prayers of peace to the whole family!
My heart is with you. My prayer is that you will find the peace within that God will give you each day. Stay close to Him and close to each other as you support each other in the days ahead. Find comfort in knowing many are praying for you all. Love to you, Emmy
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family. Chris was such a wonderful person, we always loved his humor and kindness. May you rest in peace
I am so very sorry to hear of Chris’s passing. I went to school with Mike and my brother Bob and Chris were friends. I do believe Chris was the one we gave our piano too which was in our basement on Huron street, in Taylor. What a beautiful obituary you have shared. So very sorry for your loss. I will pass this along to my brother Bob Snell.
To marylou and all the families
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband and father. He was a good man and will truly be missed
Oh how sorry to hear this news but how glad we were to hear of Chris’s strong faith. He was a special person at Fords and with UAW local 845. and a joy to work with. Mr Bob( Harper) , I’m sure, has greeted him in heaven. Bob thought the world of Chris. My prayers are with Chris’ family.
Uncle Chris will be so missed. I’ll always remember his good humor and big bear hugs. He’s survived by so many who loved and will remember him. Love, Katelyn, Charles and Charlie
Chris was the wonderful kid who lived across the street who always looked out for my son, Greg. You were one of the best right from the beginning. Rest in Peace your journey is finished.
Chris was always a pleasure to work with @ Sheldon Rd. Prayers for his family
Sending all my love and prayers to Marylou and her babies! Those amazing 4 children they raised!! I was very lucky to be part of their Family even though I was just a neighbor in Dearborn Hts.
Williams Street holds tons of Memories with The Russells! I love you all xoxo
Sending lots of love to Mary Lou and family.
I met Chris while working at the Ford Flat Rock assembly plant. Chris was the kind of genuine welcoming person that when you first meet him you feel like you have known him all your life. I cherish the times at work where he would have me laughing so hard I would choke up my coffee out of my nose! He always had an encouraging word and a lively positive attitude. He was an excellent worker and even a greater human being who I am glad to have called “friend”. I’m grateful that I got to spend and idyllic day visiting and reminiscing with him last summer at his Lake Milakokia home. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Russell family.
My dear old friend, life keeps us busy and time flies by, but I remember and cherish all the good times we had together,rest in peace my friend
Laura and I send our sincere condolences to Mary Lou and the Russell Family. Chris was an extremely kind and generous friend and neighbor, and we will miss him. We will remember Chris for his benevolent spirit. May God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, comfort you during this time of loss.
I remember Chris from high school. I did not know him well but I do remember him as being one of the funniest people I ever met. His humor was never mean-spirited and he made Geometry class bearable. My sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace and may his family find peace in all the wonderful memories you have of him.
Growing up Chris and I lived in the same neighborhood and went to the same Taylor schools from where we became friends early on. Although I had not seen Chris for many, many years, I thought of him often and fondly remembered how funny he was, always having us in stitches. A few years ago, he reached out to me while we were both living in AZ but at the time I was in the process of moving to NC, so regrettably we were never able to connect again. He was such a kind, wonderful person and so loved his wife Mary and family. Deepest condolences to Mary and family.
We will miss Chris. We all loved him❤️. May God comfort Mary Lou, his children, and Wanda.
Chris was a true servant of the Lord and a great guy to be around. He loved his family so much and we will miss seeing him at Gold Canyon when we return this winter. Our hearts and prayers are with Mary Lou and the family.
What a wonderful man! He displayed love in so many ways. I love’d how he always took time at church to listen to my 94 year old mother. Fond memories @ Church and the Cafe
A great man of God and disciple of Jesus! His family was super blessed to have him as a spiritual leader and physical protector! What a Testament to modern masculinity while balancing his family’s need for tender affection. I will truly miss Chris, beloved brother in Christ!
Great friend of many years, will cherish the many good times we had working together, deepest sympathy for Mary Lou, and family
It is with a very heavy heart that we send our condolences to Mary Lou, Chris Jr., Emily, Tara, Charley, Wanda and the whole extended family on the loss of their beloved Chris. My husband, Mike, our sons Devon and Logan, and I all loved Chris dearly. He was such a kind, generous, and incredibly thoughtful friend and neighbor and he always felt like family to us. If god could create a mold for the perfect friend and neighbor it would be based on Chris. Chris was a true angel. Chris was always so giving of his time and insisted on picking up my husband and I each and every time we were flying into Arizona and then he’d take us back to the airport. Chris was always helping us with odd jobs around our house and even tried to teach our son Logan how to be more handy because none of us are handy at all. Chris would regularly bring us treats such as ice cream, sausages, Barros Pizza and more just because he was thinking of us. Chris knew we loved to hike so he made us each beautiful walking sticks. Chris was also the friend I phoned when I got a flat tire and was stranded at night at the side of the highway. Chris jumped in and was so happy to help. He and Mary Lou also would invite our other son Devon and his girlfriend Anu over for meals when we were out of town. Chris was also one of those special friends who always took the time to reach out to each of us when we were not in town. He always made time for us and always stayed connected. I could go on and on about all the incredibly thoughtful and generous things Chris ever did for us. The magical thing about Chris is that I know he did the same for many others. He was a true gem of a friend!!! We loved spending time with Chris because he was the funniest person with such a wonderful sense of humor. Plus, he had such a passion for his Lions football team. We’d watch football together at our home every Sunday after Chris was finished at church and even though we are super loyal to our team we were rooting for his Lions to win the Super Bowl this year so that Chris could finally see his team win. Chris, we love you buddy and feel blessed to have known you. We will always cherish each of those magical memories we all made together. Thank you for sharing your heart with us! You were a one of a kind friend and we miss you so much and Gold Canyon will never be the same without you.
I am deeply saddened by this news. I haven’t seen Chris in many years but I was fortunate enough (and blessed) to watch him grow from infancy to adulthood. what a great kid, and an even greater adult. I recall many conversations with his mom she counldn’t stop bragging about Chris and his many accomplishments. And she was right. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the Russells, especially Mary Lou.
Mike, Jeff and Janine, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sometimes in your life God puts the best kind of people in your life even if just for a little while to prove he loves you. God put Chris in my life at Gold Canyon church of Christ for the purpose of making me a better person. I considered Chris as one of my mentors in Christ. It won’t be too long and I’ll join you around the throne of God forever. watch for me!
Sometimes in your life God puts the best kind of people in your life even if just for a little while to prove he loves you. God put Chris in my life at Gold Canyon church of Christ for the purpose of making me a better person. I considered Chris as one of my mentors in Christ. It won’t be too long and I’ll join you around the throne of God forever. watch for me!
Rest in peace Friend. I had the pleasure of working with Chris on and off for over 20 years. Fun loving guy, hard worker, great team leader. There wasn’t a job he didn’t want to tackle. God Speed & May God Bless the Russell family.
Brother Chris was a good Man of Great Integrity! He deeply Loved his Wife, Mary Lou, their Children, Grandchildren and entire Family!
The Carson family will continue to keep the family in our thoughts and prayers!
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
We first met Chris and Mary Lou when we purchased the property nextdoor to them on Milakokia Lake in 2016. From the very beginning they made us feel like family. Offering tools we forgot at home, keeping us updated on all the latest lake/town news, watching our kids when someone almost cut off their finger and we had to make a trip to the ER… He was always available whenever we needed something whether we were back home or nextdoor. Summers were spent with boat/jetski rides, riding the trails he made with the 4wheeler, 5 crowns and lots of ice cream. So many wonderful memories were made and the summers up there just won’t be the same without him. Chris was a great man and we will forever hold these memories close to our hearts. Our love and prayers go out to Mary Lou, the kids and all the family.
Chris and Mary Lou always brought a joy to the members of Gold Canyon Church of Christ.
Ruth and I always enjoyed the laughter that Chris brought to us every time he came in for the summer months. On many occasions, I would tease Chris about dealing with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. He would always laugh and said he could handle anything that they might think of..
There are those at the church who have lost their loved ones and we are familiar with the pain of that loss.
We will miss Chris and we want Mary Lou and the family to know that we will always love and pray for all of them.
God’s blessings and comfort to them all, Amen!
Rest in peace, dear Chris.
Dear Mary Lou and Family
Bill & I are so very sorry to hear of Chris’ passing. I pray that Mary Lou and the rest of his wonderful family find peace in dealing with the pain of losing such a loved one. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.