Alice Marie (Emmons) Smith

Alice Marie (Emmons) Smith of Portage, MI





Alice, age 80, died Wednesday morning, November 27, 2013 and went to be with her Lord.

Alice, the daughter of Lester and Marcella (Engelman) Emmons, was born September 17, 1933, in Allegan, Ml; was a lifetime area resident and a 1951 graduate of Richland High School. She taught Sunday School for years and was best known for her 30 years of service (retiring on January 1 , 2013) as the librarian of Berean Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member. In addition, she worked at the American National Bank, Portage Public Schools and retired from the Upjohn Company after 20 years. Alice took a special interest in everyone she met from the servers at Culvers to the cashiers at Meijers. Her heart for people was clearly demonstrated in the "extras" she gave from delivering homemade peanut clusters to various service providers throughout the community, to repeated visits to local restaurants, so she could continue to encourage those who worked there regularly. She was an "adopted" Grandma to many college students as she wrote to them regularly and often sent dessert money for their birthdays. She had a passion for encouraging young children to read and hosted "Camp Read A Lot," a favorite summer reading program through Berean Baptist Church. She also desired children to know her Lord and worked several years helping children earn scholarships for church camp. In addition, Alice shared her love of cooking and shopping through her ministry in HeartLIFE, a girls mentoring program which ran for many years at the church. She will be missed by young and old alike.

On June 15, 2013, Alice and Wallace "Wally" M. Smith celebrated 62 years of marriage as best friends. Also surviving are their three daughters and their spouses, Denise A. (Gary) Roberts of Vicksburg, Ml, Tami L. (Tim) Geysbeek of Fort Mill, SC, Michelle L. Raifsnider of Portage, Ml plus 21 grandchildren (including spouses); 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Rose M. Dailey of Portage, Ml; a brother, Robert (Mary) Emmons of Stoneham, MA; her extended Rhea Elizabeth "Granny Smith" family; special friends, Dennis and Patricia Regan and many nieces and nephews. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she loved to talk about them and celebrate birthdays with them. They are: Paul S. Roberts, Micah J. (Jenny) Roberts, Joel A.(Amber) Roberts, Sarah E. (Josh) Mark, Jamie A. (Rebecca) Geysbeek, Joshua T. (Jaime) Raifsnider, Ryan W. Geysbeek, Daniel J. (Lindsey) Roberts, Nicole L. Raifsnider, Matthew D. (Kati) Roberts, Adam L. (LeAnna) Geysbeek, Alec T. and Zach T. Raifsnider.

The Memorial Service to celebrate Alice's life will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 4th at 1:00 p.m. at the Berean Baptist Church, 7813 South 12th Street, Portage, with Pastor Bill Abernathy and Pastor Steve Nichols, officiating. . Family and friends are invited to continue Alice's life celebration with a time of fellowship and light refreshments in the Church's Fellowship Hall immediately following the Memorial Service. Friends will be received on Tuesday, December 3rd from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Church. Family interment will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Berean Baptist Church-library. The Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel (269-629-6022)) is in charge of all the arrangements.