Patricia Kaye (Scholten) Smith, 76, died Friday, Nov. 3, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Pat was born and raised in Holland, and graduated from Holland High School. She married 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 First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, where she served as the church secretary for many years.
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 enjoyed many boat rides, camping adventures, travels, holidays, and cups of coffee with her. She lovingly created handcrafted holiday gifts for her sisters, such as potholders, nightgowns and cookbooks as a way of sharing part of herself.
She was a selfless servant to others, always looking for ways to make the world better around her. As an integrity 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 (Rachel) Smith; sisters-in-law: Pam Erbstoesser, Shirley (Ralph) Trombley, Chris (Bob) Farr, and many nieces and nephews.
She was 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.
A memorial service will be at11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Dykstra Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd St. in Holland. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. Ray Farrell will be officiating with Pastor Jim Walker participating.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:45 am prior to the service. Pat will be laid to rest in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Western Michigan, 318 E. Main St., Suite F, Lowell, MI 49331
