Alyssa Marie Benso-Baxter, 41, of Traverse City passed away Thursday, September 28, 2017 at her home.

Alyssa was born Saturday, January 3, 1976 to Alfred and Adele (Johnson) Benso in Southfield, MI. Alyssa married Scott Baxter on November 4, 1996 in Columbus, OH. She worked as the office manager and insurance agent for her family owned business.

Alyssa will be remembered by family and loved ones as a genuine and caring person. Her big, bright smile, abundant sense of humor, endless imagination and quick wit were some of her most memorable qualities. Above all else, Alyssa valued her relationship with Jehovah God. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, she freely expressed her faith with others as one of his volunteer ministers. She willingly and gladly supported her congregation meetings, especially with heartfelt and often humorous comments on the Scriptural information being discussed. Her hope of living forever on a Paradise earth was made evident by her frequent mention of her desire to live with loved ones in a world unaffected by war, crime, sickness and death. (Psalm 46:9; Psalm 37:10, 11; Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4, 5). She was a hard worker who expressed genuine concern for her clients; building lasting relationships with many of them. Alyssa loved the company of her family including her two cats Cole and Cleo. Alyssa enjoyed her family cabin on St. Joseph Island in Canada where she spent many happy years from infancy to adulthood in the company of her dear family members. Alyssa was happiest being surrounded by God's beautiful creation especially the tranquility she felt listening to the sound of rustling leaves.

She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend, Scott Baxter; devoted mother Adele (Timothy) Neal; loving, best big sister to Aundrea (Anthony) SanClemente and her loving brother Aaron Benso; along with her niece (and daughter in heart, as Alyssa would say her "mini-me" and "baby girl"), Drew Livingston. Alyssa also dearly loved her uncles, their wives, families and her very large spiritual family of caring brothers and sisters.

She was preceded in death by her much loved and missed father Alfred Benso.

A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 1950 Chase Road, Traverse City, MI 49685 on Saturday October 14th at 2 p.m.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Alyssa with her family by way of her online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.