Elisabeth Jane (Smith) Holden

Ms. Elisabeth "Libby" Holden passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at her home The Village of Heather Hills in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Age 88 years. The daughter of the late Carl Henry and Jane Elisabeth (Williams) Smith was born December 31, 1930 in Bay City, Michigan. She was a longtime resident of Harbor Springs, Michigan and Green Valley, Arizona. Libby was a lifelong educator at Lincoln Elementary School in Lombard, IL and at the higher education level at Central Michigan University. She was a world traveler, enjoyed playing bridge, active in theater and choir and enjoyed opera and Broadway. She was part of the alumni of Kingswood - Cranbrook, Albion College and Northern Illinois University. Libby was a sister of Delta Gamma Fraternity, member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization and the American Association of University Women.

Libby is survived by her four children, Deborah (Melvin) Aschenbrenner, Carla (Larry Giannotti) Lenkey, Laura Lenkey and Peter (April) Lenkey; eight grandchildren, Melaney (Aaron) Rayburn, Scott Aschenbrenner, William Mitchell, Geoffrey Mitchell, Kyle Lenkey, Marjori Boldt, Cooper Lenkey and Hannah Lenkey; one great grandchild, Ellis Rayburn; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Smith and Carl Henry Smith Jr.

A celebration of life service will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the Gephart Funeral Home with interment following in Elm Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial cards for the family wishes are to be used for a higher education graduate scholarship fund.