Lee Ann Smith

Lee Ann (Seidel) Smith of Traverse City joined her husband William (Bill) Smith and her parents in heaven on July 21, 2024. Lee Ann was born on June 28, 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan. She grew up with her older brother Conrad Seidel and younger sister Barbra (William “Jake”) Jacob. Lee Ann followed her lifelong dream of owning a Christmas and craft store. From humble beginnings crafting in the upstairs of their garage at 615 Fifth St., in 1983 Lee and Bill moved west of TC and opened “Country Christmas” in the quaint red building, easily recognizable along M-72 and readily remembered after visiting. The store was open from May 1st to Christmas Eve and was well known for Lee Ann’s handmade chalk ware, driftwood Santa ornaments, angel figurines, collectables, and all sorts of treasures hand crafted from various local artists. She taught classes to support and inspire creativity in our community. Customers became friends, visiting regularly even if only once or twice a year. Several became close friends. Lee Ann’s genuinely positive attitude and welcoming warmth touched many lives and helped bring people back to the shop to select family keepsakes so important for Christmas celebrations. Her stylistic addition of customers’ names to items was much appreciated, often requested, and furthered the personal connection that made their shop so special. Lee Ann and Bill's 35 years running Country Christmas included another store in Leland, Michigan for a period of time. This successful business woman was even more valued as a loving wife and mother. Lee Ann is survived by her three sons, eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, her sister, four nieces and two nephews. Her oldest son Tracy W Smith and wife Marci (Brown) Smith, children: Amanda (Chad) Rasmussen and Andrew Smith. Lee Ann’s next son is Terry A Smith and wife Lindsay (Rice) Smith, children: Jack, Brady, Bennett, Finley and Carson. Lee Ann’s youngest son is James C Smith and wife Linda (Hankes) Smith and daughter Jadyn Gorny. Lee Ann also had five great grandchildren: Kayleigh, Harper and Mason, children of Amanda and Chad Rasmussen, and Andrew Smith’s children Norah and Oliver. Lee Ann was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Pauline (Deal) Seidel, husband William Smith, brother Conrad Seidel, brother in-law William Jacob, nephew Jeffrey Jacob, and father and mother in-law Arthur and Vivian (Mercedes-McMinn) Smith. Lee Ann’s Funeral will take place at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St. Traverse City, Michigan 49684, on July 31, 2024. The visitation will start at 2:00 p.m. with the Memorial Service at 3:00 p.m. The service will be followed by a graveside placement at Memorial Gardens on Veterans Drive in Traverse City. Those Planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation to Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan, 3785 Veterans Dr., Traverse City, Michigan 49684. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Lee Ann’s family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Lee Ann Smith

June 28, 1939 - July 21, 2024