Phyllis Irene Smith

In loving memory of Phyllis Irene (Holtz) Smith, who joyfully entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Phyllis was born on November 9, 1920 to Lewis and Elizabeth (Lemmer) Holtz. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, attended WMU, and worked at The UpJohn Company. Phyllis met her dearly loved husband, Joe Smith, at Calvary Bible Church and married during WWII while her husband was home on leave. They were blessed with 70 wonderful years of marriage. Together they raised three children: Leslee (David) Roberts, Michael (Joy) Smith, Philip (LuAnn) Smith.

Phyllis was a wonderful Grandma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Beth (Phil, deceased) Lawrence, Sheri VanderLugt (deceased), (Phil and Megan VanderLugt), Steve (Pam) Roberts, Jonathan (Lauryn), Stephanie (Chris) Reynolds, Jodi (Josh) Andrews, Bryan (Cindy) Smith, and to her eighteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Phyllis was very active in the Embroiders’ Guild, accomplishing beautiful wall hangings to treasure. She thoroughly enjoyed bird watching. Phyllis loved to read, especially the Bible. She and her husband brought their children up hearing God’s Word read every supper hour. Washington Square Library was a favorite place to bring her children and to create a pattern of reading in them. Her love of reading gave her a desire to begin a library at Calvary Bible Church where she and her husband were active members. Today that library is a blessing to many people. Of highest importance to Phyllis was to be a prayer warrior for her family, church family, missionaries and friends until the Lord took her home to heaven. We cherish her Christ-centered legacy.

 A memorial service at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI, will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Missions Fund of Calvary Bible Church. We would like to thank Centrica Care Hospice and Rose Arbor Hospice for their loving care of our Mom.