Patricia Smith

Patricia Kaye (Scholten) Smith, age 76, went to be with the Lord on November 3, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Pat was born and raised in Holland, MI and graduated from Holland High School. She married the love of her life, Reggie Smith, in 1965; they enjoyed 57 years together, raising two boys, boating, fishing, traveling, and adventuring together as best friends. They started their life together in Saugatuck and after Reggie joined the State Police, they lived in Reed City, Wayland, Zeeland, Saugatuck (again), and ultimately, Byron Center.

Pat had a servant's heart, always positively impacting and prioritizing those around her. She held positions with the United Church of Wayland, United Bank, First Michigan Bank, Huizenga Pork, and the Saugatuck Township Fire Department, before ending her career at the 1st Congregational Church of Saugatuck where she served as the church secretary for many years. She was well known to lend a hand to those in need and always brought a smile and hug to those crossing her path.

Pat was actively involved in the lives of her family, regularly attending sporting events, fishing trips, camping adventures, boat rides, and fabulous sunsets. She made those adventures fun and seamless with her kindness, support, planning, and attention to detail. Pat was known not only for fishing, but for driving the boat for hours, while serving up world-class sandwiches, so her boys could focus on fishing and seize the day. She still holds the family record for having caught the largest fish – a 36 pound king salmon!

Pat’s siblings were always important to her, and she enjoyed many boat rides, camping adventures, travels, holidays, and cups of coffee with them over the years. She lovingly created handcrafted holiday gifts for her sisters, such as potholders, nightgowns, and cookbooks as a way of sharing part of herself with them. Those gifts will always be cherished, knowing the time, effort, and love Pat put into each of them.

She was a selfless servant to others, always looking for ways to make the world better around her. As an integrity filled Christian, she served her Lord, family, and community with a genuine caring spirit and she will be incredibly missed by those blessed to have known her.

She is preceded in death by her parents Harris and Thelma (Turkstra) Scholten, sister Pam Crays, nephew Dan Scholten, and mother and father-in-law Reginald and Mina Smith.

She is survived by her husband Reggie, sons Terry (Lisa) Smith and Joe Smith, grandchildren: Lexie (Austin) Lynema, Shelby, Shane, Kyla and Teagan Smith; siblings: Robert Scholten (Lori VanTubbergen), Sue (Al) Smith, Sally (Ned) Joldersma; brothers-in-law: Malcolm (Pat) Smith and Tommy (Raquel) Smith; sisters-in-law: Pam Erbstoesser, Shirley (Ralph) Trombley, Chris (Bob) Farr, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 11:00 am, Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Dykstra Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street in Holland (a luncheon will immediately follow the service). Ray Farrell will be officiating with Pastor Jim Walker participating. Pat will be laid to rest in Restlawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 9:30 am-10:45 am prior to the service. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Western Michigan, 318 E. Main St., Suite F, Lowell, MI 49331.