Judith Ann Smith, 88, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2026, at Quincy Place Senior Living in Holland, Michigan.
Judy was born in Traverse City on March 22, 1938, to Emma Lulu (Anderson) Dechow and Carl Everett Dechow.
She graduated from high school in Elk Rapids, where her father was a math teacher and science teacher.
She met her husband, Dwight, in a practice room at Central Michigan University, where they were both music students.
They were married on April 20,1957.
Life and career changes took them to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, East Jordan, Lansing, Litchfield, Chelsea, Elk Rapids, Mancelona and finally, post-retirement, to their much-loved home in northern Michigan near Bellaire and winters in Florida.
Judy completed her elementary education degree at CMU in 1974 and for many years taught in various schools as a long-term substitute.
She was also proud to serve as the wedding consultant at Milliken’s in Traverse City. Music was a big part of her life, and she played clarinet in community bands with Dwight long into their retirement.
She had a beautiful singing voice and participated for many years in church choir at Bellaire’s Church in the Hills, as well as the Antrim Community Choir.
She and Dwight also shared a lifelong enjoyment of gardening and camping. Each summer Judy would can, freeze, and make jams and jellies.
She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, and leaves her family many beautiful examples of her work. Despite suffering from seasickness, she was also a frequent fishing partner for Dwight.
And nobody could eat more ice cream. Judy’s greatest role in life was being Mom.
She was the heart of her family, always doing for others, and she will be greatly missed.
Judy is survived by daughter Ruth (David) Crouch, sons William (Rebecca) and Dwight, and daughter Kathryn (John) McGee, grandchildren Laura and Timothy Crouch, Melissa (Dustin) Swanson and Johnny (Katherine) McGee, great-granddaughter Aria McGee, and sister Carol Minor.
She was preceded in death by husband Dwight in 2015 and brother Kenneth in 1999.
Judy’s family extends heartfelt thanks to the wonderfully caring people at Quincy Place and the hospice team from Corewell Health.
Words cannot express our gratitude for all their kindness and support.
No funeral services are planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holland Symphony Orchestra, where Judy’s love of music lives on for the next generation.
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