Char Lynn Smith

Char Lynn Smith, 80, bid farewell to her worldly body on November 8, 2024 after a sudden illness. She was surrounded by her beloved family. Char was born in Dearborn on March 31, 1944 to Charlotte and Stanley Smith. 

Stanley, ever the entrepreneur and explorer, discovered a swampy swath of land along Lake Michigan, near Atwood and began bringing his family there in 1954. That stretch of land later became White Pine Shores, and Stanley subdivided and sold the lots to his teacher friends. Char was one of the founding members of White Pine Shores. 

White Pine Shores was Char’s lifelong love. “A magical woods of green shade and swamp moss”. She maintained one of the original cabins there, enjoying time with family, friends, her beloved dogs, sunsets, coffee on the beach, and nature year round. 

Char adored Northern Michigan so much that she moved to the area and married Jerry, whom she met at White Pine Shores, in 1972. They occupied, added on to, and fixed up a hundred year old school house in Eastport where they raised their 3 daughters. Char lived in her cherished home for more than 50 years. 

Char spent her career inspiring and encouraging 4th graders at Ellsworth Elementary School. She retired in 2008 and enjoyed her art, her quirky home, time with family, good meals, adored dogs, her orchids, and nature. Char appreciated the little things, the most important things in life and taught us all to step back, take a breath and appreciate those things. 

She is survived by her daughters, Annie (Phil) Evenhouse, Megan (Chris) Hancock, Molly Scott (Todd Vanderplow), her grandchildren Ava and Jack Evenhouse, younger brother Fred Smith, ex-husband and dear friend, Jerry, cherished nieces and nephews, and her treasured dog, Angus. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Charlotte, and her brothers Theodore (Teddy) and Stanley (Sockie). 

A celebration of life and art show to honor Char is being planned for her favorite season, summer. Memorial contributions can be made to Help from My Friends Pet Crisis Center, as Char loved animals, and the family pets all loved her the best. The inside family joke was that Char was the Disney princess to all the dogs. 

Char’s lightheartedness, love of life, and presence in the moment are lessons to us all; “Do your little bit of good, where you are; it’s those bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ~Desmond Tutu 

Arrangements are in the care of the Ellsworth Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com