LaVerne Smith

LaVerne Louise Smith, 76, of DeTour Village, started DeTour Box Company with her husband, Leo, in 1960. The entire family worked at the company until they sold the business in 1974, when the name was changed to Nettleton Wood Products, although Mrs. Smith continued to work there.

She died Sunday, January 13, 2008, at her home.

Mr. Smith was born October 31, 1931, in Engadine to Albert Julius and Anna Louise Matchinski. She grew up in Engadine and married Leo Roland Smith November 27, 1949. They moved to DeTour in 1954.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the DeTour Union Presbyterian Church and enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening.

She is survived by two daughters, Vickie Smith of Eugene, Oregon, and Penny Smith of Painesdale; two sons and their families, Roland and Paula Smith of Indian Trail, North Carolina, and Dale Smith of Ida; nine grandchildren and their families, Maria and Stacy Moore, Lucas and Toni Smith, Melissa and Boe Gaines, Tyler and Andrea Smith, Mitchell Smith, Sheldon Smith, Lindsey and Wyatt Gregory, Stacy Fountain, and Jesse Fountain; her mother, Anna Matchinski of Newberry; three sisters and their families, Alice and Al LeDuc of West Branch, Joyce and Earl LeGault of Engadine, and Sandy and Frank Murray of Hesperia, and two brothers and their families, Ken and Sally Matchinski of Brutus and Dennis and Marge Matchinski of Hampshire, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her husband and father, a granddaughter, Leanne Smith, and a grandson, Travis Fountain.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 17, at 11 a.m. at the DeTour Union Presbyterian Church with The Reverend Judith Arnold officiating.

The family requests no flowers for the service.

Reamer Galer Funeral Home of Pickford assisted the family with arrangements.