Hazel I. Jorgensen Smith, 90, passed away Friday morning, Feb. 16, 2007, at her home in Stanton. She was born Nov. 12, 1916, in Pine Township. She was the second of five daughters born to William J. and Lena Wulff Jorgensen. Her mother was a school teacher. She died when Hazel was 11. Hazel always wanted to be a teacher and she and her four sisters each became teachers. Hazel attended Pleasant Hill School, graduated from Lakeview High School, went to Montcalm County Normal in Stanton and began teaching in the local country schools. Hazel always loved sports. She played softball, basketball, tennis and became a coach for the Pleasant Hill and Langston softball teams. They were very good teams. She continued to play softball until she was 47.
On May 25, 1940, Hazel and Martin P. Smith were married and moved to the farm where she lived until her death. They had four children. Hazel continued to teach locally and for 18 years in the inner-city schools in Grand Rapids. She continued her edu¬cation while teaching and raising a family, receiving a bachelor of science degree from Central Michigan University and a master's in special education from the University of Michigan. She completed 60 more hours before she retired in 1978. After retiring, Hazel served as president of Montcalm Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP). She was very involved in compiling, publishing and selling three books, "Tales from the Teacher's Desk." She was a founding member and first chairperson of Heritage Village at Montcalm Community College. At age 81, she published her own book, "Pleasant Hill Memories," a collection of stories she compiled all photos, maps, and her own writings - about the school and life of settlers in the Pleasant Hill area. She and her sister, Dorothea Ellsworth, author of "The Dream Series", enjoyed sharing and selling their books at the local craft sales.
On Nov. 12, 2006, Hazel celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house at New Life United Methodist Church. She had a wonderful day. Hazel was a member of Sidney Women's Club, life member of Ladies Auxiliary of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065, Sheridan, life member of Montcalm Heritage Village, MARSP, National Education Association, Montcalm County Democratic Party, New Life United Methodist Church and Widow's Might at New Life. Hazel was preceded in death by her mother, Lena Wulff Jorgensen in 1928; father, William J. Jorgensen in 1970; stepmother, Ferne Ellafrits Jorgensen in 1999; husband, Martin P. Smith in 1995; daughter-in-law, Jane A. Tower Smith in 2005. She is survived by her children, Christina and Antonio Vovides of Martinez, Ga., Charles R. Smith, Phyllis and Elizabeth Smith, all of Stanton; sisters, Iola Devine of Rochester Hills, Geraldine Christensen, Dorothea and Vernon Ellsworth, all of Stanton, Jean and Robert Zimmerman of Carson City, Evelyn Jorgensen of Ocoee, Fla.; brothers, William Jorgensen and Clara Steier of Oviedo, Fla., Ned Jorgensen of Mason; two sisters-in-law, Grace Smith of Stanton, Josephine Smith of Cedar Springs; grandsons, Andrew C. Smith and Jennifer Ellis of Huber Heights, Ohio, Phillip C. Smith of Stanton; great-grandsons, Phillip Charles Smith II of Stanton, Carter Jacob Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio; and many kind and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Six Lakes, with Pastor Anita Hahn officiating. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brigham Funeral Chapel, Six Lakes. Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Methodist Church, Heritage Village or the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. -Greenville Daily News
-added by Andrew Smith
On May 25, 1940, Hazel and Martin P. Smith were married and moved to the farm where she lived until her death. They had four children. Hazel continued to teach locally and for 18 years in the inner-city schools in Grand Rapids. She continued her edu¬cation while teaching and raising a family, receiving a bachelor of science degree from Central Michigan University and a master's in special education from the University of Michigan. She completed 60 more hours before she retired in 1978. After retiring, Hazel served as president of Montcalm Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP). She was very involved in compiling, publishing and selling three books, "Tales from the Teacher's Desk." She was a founding member and first chairperson of Heritage Village at Montcalm Community College. At age 81, she published her own book, "Pleasant Hill Memories," a collection of stories she compiled all photos, maps, and her own writings - about the school and life of settlers in the Pleasant Hill area. She and her sister, Dorothea Ellsworth, author of "The Dream Series", enjoyed sharing and selling their books at the local craft sales.
On Nov. 12, 2006, Hazel celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house at New Life United Methodist Church. She had a wonderful day. Hazel was a member of Sidney Women's Club, life member of Ladies Auxiliary of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065, Sheridan, life member of Montcalm Heritage Village, MARSP, National Education Association, Montcalm County Democratic Party, New Life United Methodist Church and Widow's Might at New Life. Hazel was preceded in death by her mother, Lena Wulff Jorgensen in 1928; father, William J. Jorgensen in 1970; stepmother, Ferne Ellafrits Jorgensen in 1999; husband, Martin P. Smith in 1995; daughter-in-law, Jane A. Tower Smith in 2005. She is survived by her children, Christina and Antonio Vovides of Martinez, Ga., Charles R. Smith, Phyllis and Elizabeth Smith, all of Stanton; sisters, Iola Devine of Rochester Hills, Geraldine Christensen, Dorothea and Vernon Ellsworth, all of Stanton, Jean and Robert Zimmerman of Carson City, Evelyn Jorgensen of Ocoee, Fla.; brothers, William Jorgensen and Clara Steier of Oviedo, Fla., Ned Jorgensen of Mason; two sisters-in-law, Grace Smith of Stanton, Josephine Smith of Cedar Springs; grandsons, Andrew C. Smith and Jennifer Ellis of Huber Heights, Ohio, Phillip C. Smith of Stanton; great-grandsons, Phillip Charles Smith II of Stanton, Carter Jacob Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio; and many kind and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Six Lakes, with Pastor Anita Hahn officiating. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brigham Funeral Chapel, Six Lakes. Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Methodist Church, Heritage Village or the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. -Greenville Daily News
-added by Andrew Smith
Hazel I. Jorgensen Smith, 90, passed away Friday morning, Feb. 16, 2007, at her home in Stanton. She was born Nov. 12, 1916, in Pine Township. She was the second of five daughters born to William J. and Lena Wulff Jorgensen. Her mother was a school teacher. She died when Hazel was 11. Hazel always wanted to be a teacher and she and her four sisters each became teachers. Hazel attended Pleasant Hill School, graduated from Lakeview High School, went to Montcalm County Normal in Stanton and began teaching in the local country schools. Hazel always loved sports. She played softball, basketball, tennis and became a coach for the Pleasant Hill and Langston softball teams. They were very good teams. She continued to play softball until she was 47.
On May 25, 1940, Hazel and Martin P. Smith were married and moved to the farm where she lived until her death. They had four children. Hazel continued to teach locally and for 18 years in the inner-city schools in Grand Rapids. She continued her edu¬cation while teaching and raising a family, receiving a bachelor of science degree from Central Michigan University and a master's in special education from the University of Michigan. She completed 60 more hours before she retired in 1978. After retiring, Hazel served as president of Montcalm Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP). She was very involved in compiling, publishing and selling three books, "Tales from the Teacher's Desk." She was a founding member and first chairperson of Heritage Village at Montcalm Community College. At age 81, she published her own book, "Pleasant Hill Memories," a collection of stories she compiled all photos, maps, and her own writings - about the school and life of settlers in the Pleasant Hill area. She and her sister, Dorothea Ellsworth, author of "The Dream Series", enjoyed sharing and selling their books at the local craft sales.
On Nov. 12, 2006, Hazel celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house at New Life United Methodist Church. She had a wonderful day. Hazel was a member of Sidney Women's Club, life member of Ladies Auxiliary of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065, Sheridan, life member of Montcalm Heritage Village, MARSP, National Education Association, Montcalm County Democratic Party, New Life United Methodist Church and Widow's Might at New Life. Hazel was preceded in death by her mother, Lena Wulff Jorgensen in 1928; father, William J. Jorgensen in 1970; stepmother, Ferne Ellafrits Jorgensen in 1999; husband, Martin P. Smith in 1995; daughter-in-law, Jane A. Tower Smith in 2005. She is survived by her children, Christina and Antonio Vovides of Martinez, Ga., Charles R. Smith, Phyllis and Elizabeth Smith, all of Stanton; sisters, Iola Devine of Rochester Hills, Geraldine Christensen, Dorothea and Vernon Ellsworth, all of Stanton, Jean and Robert Zimmerman of Carson City, Evelyn Jorgensen of Ocoee, Fla.; brothers, William Jorgensen and Clara Steier of Oviedo, Fla., Ned Jorgensen of Mason; two sisters-in-law, Grace Smith of Stanton, Josephine Smith of Cedar Springs; grandsons, Andrew C. Smith and Jennifer Ellis of Huber Heights, Ohio, Phillip C. Smith of Stanton; great-grandsons, Phillip Charles Smith II of Stanton, Carter Jacob Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio; and many kind and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Six Lakes, with Pastor Anita Hahn officiating. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brigham Funeral Chapel, Six Lakes. Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Methodist Church, Heritage Village or the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. -Greenville Daily News
-added by Andrew Smith
On May 25, 1940, Hazel and Martin P. Smith were married and moved to the farm where she lived until her death. They had four children. Hazel continued to teach locally and for 18 years in the inner-city schools in Grand Rapids. She continued her edu¬cation while teaching and raising a family, receiving a bachelor of science degree from Central Michigan University and a master's in special education from the University of Michigan. She completed 60 more hours before she retired in 1978. After retiring, Hazel served as president of Montcalm Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP). She was very involved in compiling, publishing and selling three books, "Tales from the Teacher's Desk." She was a founding member and first chairperson of Heritage Village at Montcalm Community College. At age 81, she published her own book, "Pleasant Hill Memories," a collection of stories she compiled all photos, maps, and her own writings - about the school and life of settlers in the Pleasant Hill area. She and her sister, Dorothea Ellsworth, author of "The Dream Series", enjoyed sharing and selling their books at the local craft sales.
On Nov. 12, 2006, Hazel celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house at New Life United Methodist Church. She had a wonderful day. Hazel was a member of Sidney Women's Club, life member of Ladies Auxiliary of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065, Sheridan, life member of Montcalm Heritage Village, MARSP, National Education Association, Montcalm County Democratic Party, New Life United Methodist Church and Widow's Might at New Life. Hazel was preceded in death by her mother, Lena Wulff Jorgensen in 1928; father, William J. Jorgensen in 1970; stepmother, Ferne Ellafrits Jorgensen in 1999; husband, Martin P. Smith in 1995; daughter-in-law, Jane A. Tower Smith in 2005. She is survived by her children, Christina and Antonio Vovides of Martinez, Ga., Charles R. Smith, Phyllis and Elizabeth Smith, all of Stanton; sisters, Iola Devine of Rochester Hills, Geraldine Christensen, Dorothea and Vernon Ellsworth, all of Stanton, Jean and Robert Zimmerman of Carson City, Evelyn Jorgensen of Ocoee, Fla.; brothers, William Jorgensen and Clara Steier of Oviedo, Fla., Ned Jorgensen of Mason; two sisters-in-law, Grace Smith of Stanton, Josephine Smith of Cedar Springs; grandsons, Andrew C. Smith and Jennifer Ellis of Huber Heights, Ohio, Phillip C. Smith of Stanton; great-grandsons, Phillip Charles Smith II of Stanton, Carter Jacob Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio; and many kind and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Six Lakes, with Pastor Anita Hahn officiating. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brigham Funeral Chapel, Six Lakes. Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Methodist Church, Heritage Village or the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. -Greenville Daily News
-added by Andrew Smith
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