Obituary: Helen Smith, 89, of Ludington

Helen Smith

Helen Dolores Smith, 89, of Ludington, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

Dolores was born on June 28, 1935, in Glasgow, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Connie Hugo and Iris Opal (Handy) Flowers. She was a 1953 graduate of Bowling Green High School. She later attended Western Kentucky University. On November 29, 1963, she married the late Tom Smith. Together they shared a short but beautiful 13 years together until Tom’s passing in 1976. Dolores never remarried. In 2002, she retired from being a property manager.

Dolores, also lovingly known as “Grandma Dee” was a loyal servant to Our Lord and Savior. She was always involved with her church; teaching recovery classes, working in the nursery, helping in the office, or just anytime help was needed in the church. You could always see her with her Bible, either reading it or doing church studies. She was a devoted member of Calvary Baptist and Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Dolores had six children to care for during the earlier years and she enjoyed every minute of it. Baseball, kickball, water skiing, making snowmen, playing board games, and making Christmas cookies were the fun time she shared with her children.

You would always find Dolores with her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren’s events and sometimes she would be the loudest cheerleader. Whenever children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren needed her, she was always there for them.

An open seat was always available at Dolores’ dinner table for friends and coworkers. She was always willing to help a friend in need and was the first to offer help. She would stay with close friends that were sick to care for them with love and compassion.

We will miss Dolores’ humor and smile.

Dolores is survived by her children, Mickey (Jennene) Finn, Cheryl (Tom Ley) VanConant, and Sheresa (Linus II) Thalman; grandchildren, Tim (Rebekah) Finn, Kenny (Sherena) Finn, Michelle (Jack) White, Misty (Steve) Dopp, Mandy (Todd) Parsons, Melina (Frank) Garcia, Linus (Nicole Beaty) Thalman III, Christopher Thalman, Jason (Brooke) Smith, Alyssa (Max) Haney, Rick Smith, Krissy (Denny Jados) Smith, and Billy Smith; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Ezra, Evan, Zoe, Kenneth, Leeloo, Tyler, Andrew, Jordan, Paige, Brycen, Kailee, Kody, Chyles, Stanton, Alexis, Linus IV, Gia, Sommer, Landon, Chase, Hannah, Gabby, Ava, Reaghan, Noelle, Harley, Ruth, James, Lynesa, Jacob, Katelyn, Justin, Talissa and Tailyn; and great-great grandchildren, Clary and Everleigh.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Smith; sons, David, Dale and Rick; parents, Connie and Iris Flowers; siblings, Connie, Juanita, Fred and Tommy; son-in-law, Wayne; and granddaughter, Jessica.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 14, at 11 a.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Visitation begins at 10am at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 220 N. Jebavy Dr., Ludington MI 49431 or to Cornerstone Baptist Church, 121 N. Nelson Rd., Ludington MI 49431.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.