April Sharon Smith

February 25, 1937 - May 13, 2011

OBITUARY:April S. Smith, aged 74 of Custer, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 13, 2011. April was born on February 25, 1937 in Amber Township to John Lyle and Cleo Belle (McCormick) Reene, and graduated from Custer High School with the class of 1955. On May 12, 1956 she married LaVerne “Pete” Smith at the Scottville United Methodist Church. They celebrated 44 years together before Pete preceded her in death on November 11, 2000. April loved raising and caring for her family, and worked at Mason County Eastern Schools for 13 years in the lunch room. She was past-president of the MCE Child Study Club, and a long time member of Crossroads Church, where she served as a Deaconess and was in charge of the flower ministry for many years. She enjoyed crocheting and watching the birds visit the feeders in her yard, while always remembering her friends and family on special occasions with a card or note.April began her fight with Multiple Sclerosis in 1978, providing her family with a great example of grace and courage. You always felt better after a visit with April than when you came because of her uplifting view of life. She served as an inspiration too many, but especially to her grandson Cameron as he faces new challenges in his life.April will be greatly missed by her son Randy Smith, and daughter Renee (Matt) Peters both of Custer, her grandsons Sean Peters of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Cameron Peters of Wyoming and his fiancée Jeannine, her sister Jewel (Lester) Pitcher of Walhalla, her brother Lyle (Kris) Reene of Custer, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held for April at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 18 at Crossroads Church with her pastor, Rev. Rich Chasse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Custer. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Tuesday evening from 6-9 pm at the Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville.Those who wish to make memorial contributions, are asked to consider Hospice of Michigan – Mason County.