Elna Bishop

Of Vassar, age 82, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012, surrounded by her loving family, at Margaret Fuehring Memorial Care Center for Alzheimer's patients, in Hart, Michigan. The funeral service will take place 11:00 am, Friday, April 20, 2012 at the Martin Funeral Home -Vassar. Pastor Clint Cozier will officiate with burial to follow in Eastlawn Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Friday, from 10:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Harbor Hospice, Alzheimer's Association, or First Presbyterian Church of Vassar. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Elna was born March 24, 1930 in Millington, Michigan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George and Carol (Conlee) Smith. She and Harold Bishop were united in marriage in September 1948. She worked for AC Spark Plug as a division of General Motors, for 35 years, before retiring in 1985. In her earlier years, she enjoyed ballroom dancing, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, water skiing, camping, and taking other large, extended-family vacations to the Ozarks of Arkansas, and Florida beaches. She has always enjoyed baking, especially decorating cakes; collecting ocean shells on the Florida beaches; and crocheting. She was also a lifetime member of the Vassar Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aires #2380. Left to cherish her memory are children, Janice and husband Ron Gooding of Pentwater, Keith and wife Darlene Bishop of Caro, Rodene and husband Robert Cassidy of Swartz Creek, and Carla Sciacca of Punta Gorda, FL; siblings, George and wife, Elsie Smith, Evelyn and husband, Norris Saugstad, Glenor Creel, Bevin Smith, Carol and husband, George Vickers; 14 grandchildren, Trent and wife, Stacey Gooding, Jason and wife, Jamie Gooding, Ronelle and husband, Jodi Keck, Tara and husband, Jerrod Eisenlohr, Rhonda and husband, Chris Lundsted, Jeremy Bishop and fiance, Kim Nelson, Brandon Lamrock, Travis Lamrock, Chelsea and husband, Dan Janes, Heather and husband, Ben Dickie, Molly and husband, Charles Alcaraz, Megan and husband, Gordon Loll, Carey and husband Rob Swanson, and Walt Ross III; 19 great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold Bishop; siblings Irene Bennett, Louis "Pete" Smith, Jack Smith and second husband, Edison Empey.