Blanche Marie Forman Smith

Blanche Marie Smith, age 88, of Battle Creek died peacefully at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital on Thursday, March 7, 2019. She was born in Battle Creek on December 14, 1930, the daughter of Earl Hubert and Myrtice Lee (Mills) Smith. Blanche was a 1949 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School and a lifelong Battle Creek resident.

Blanche was preceded in death by two husbands, Allen Forman on February 9, 1986 and Cecil Smith on April 5, 2013. Surviving are three children, Randy (Margaret) Forman of Marshall, Robert (Kim) Forman of Orange, TX; Julie (Steve) Franklin of Battle Creek; a stepdaughter, Sandra (Larry) Hassenzahl of Battle Creek; seven grandchildren, Michael (Bree) Forman, Anna (John) Novetske, Staci (Tom) Casarez, Rachel (James) Doak, Ashley (Coty) Green, Victoria Franklin, and Olivia Franklin; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, Blanche was also preceded in death by two sisters, Lorena Catherine Smith and Frances Lee Feeney.

Blanche was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church which recently merged with Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. She belonged to the Home Extension Group that met at Trinity for over 40 years. Blanche was also a member of TOPS for over 50 years. She enjoyed camping, reading, word search puzzles, knitting, crocheting, swimming, fishing and painting by numbers. She also enjoyed collecting music boxes. Blanche loved her family dearly. She will be remembered as a generous and caring mother and grandmother.

Blanche's family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 105 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. A funeral service to celebrate Blanche's life will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 10 W. Bidwell St., Battle Creek, MI 49015. Committal and interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Blanche may be made to: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church or the American Diabetes Association – Michigan. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.