Mary Belle Smith

Mary Belle Smith, a radiant soul whose light shone brightly, was born on May 15, 1931 to the late Fred and Sarah Belle Sutton in East Jordan, MI.

Mary passed away November 7, 2023 at the age of 92, surrounded by loved ones at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Mary’s early years she attended a country school called the Rockery School House, and later she attended the East Jordan High School to get her diploma.  She worked for a short time at the Ellsworth Canning factory with her mother to help take care of the family.

She met the love of her life, Duane Smith in 1957 through a mail correspondence.  They made their home in the rural part of East Jordan where they raised 5 children.

Mary loved gardening, canning vegetables, riding bikes, bird watching, and doing word search puzzles. She also liked to watch the Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Let’s Make a Deal on T.V.  She enjoyed cooking and visiting family over the holidays.

Mary is survived by two sons and two daughters; Randall Smith of Kalkaska and Jimmy Smith of Ellsworth, Sherry Kelsey of Cadillac and Sally (Keith) Ruehle of East Jordan.  She dearly loves her grandchildren Allison and John Smith, Dylan and Matthew Ruehle and Rosie Worley and Jimmy Jacobs.  She was preceded in death by her husband Duane Smith in May of 2013, son Kenneth Smith in December of 2022, and siblings Alice (Palmer) Wilber, Glenn Sutton, and Stanley (Betty) Sutton.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 9 at 2 p.m. at the Ellsworth Wesleyan Church with Pastor Chris Wallace officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service.  Interment will take place in Ellsworth Cemetery. 

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