Mrs. Norma Jean (Tulip) Smith, age 96, of Mecosta and formerly Belmont, Michigan passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, January 3, 2026. She was born May 7, 1929 to Claude and Grace (Thompson) Tulip, and she was a graduate of Creston High School.

Her true love was doing things with her family and friends. She was a pillar of her community where she enjoyed being a volunteer Camp Fire leader for over 8 years, school carnival clown, school librarian, and voter volunteer. Norma was a member of Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church for over 40 years, where she volunteered for vacation Bible school, spaghetti dinners, and led the quilting club. She had many hobbies and interests: golfing, snowmobiling, watching the Tigers baseball, knitting, crocheting, watching game shows, playing Scrabble and Bingo, listening to music, puzzles, reading the Bible, and reading other books. Her philosophy in life was to "smile and try to be as happy as you can in the situation."

Norma will be dearly missed by her children: Linda S. (Smith) Green of Sparta, Richard P. (Debra) Smith of Grand Rapids, and Carole J. (Smith) (Carlos) Ortega of Holt and Denver; grandchildren: Heather (Smith) Holland, Rudy Ortega, Richard R. Smith (Emma), Monica (Ortega) (Steve) Sawicki, Jessica Green (Cole); and six great-grandchildren.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years Richard P. Smith; as well as two sisters: Betty Doezema and June Wollner.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, January 8, 2026, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. The funeral service will be held the following day: Friday, January 9, 2026, 1:00 PM, at Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church, Mecosta, Michigan. A luncheon will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church, and Faith Hospice.

Arrangements are in the care of Daggett Gilbert Funeral Homes, Big Rapids.