Mary E. Lessard, age 74, of Spencer Township, passed away Friday morning, October 6, 2017 at home under the loving care of her family and Kindred Hospice.  The adopted daughter of Elwyn Earl & Betty Ann (Love) Olmstead, she was born on May 8, 1943 in Evart.

On August 28, 1965, in Ludington, she married Luther F. Lessard and together they made their home in Greenville, where Luther taught at Greenville High School, raised four children, and where members of the First United Methodist Church where Mary was active in the Naomi Circle.  In retirement, they made there home in Ludington where she attended Cornerstone Baptist Church.  After returning to the area, she was a  member of Spencer Mills Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Gowen and more recently a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville where she belonged to the Naomi Widow's Club and volunteered in many other activities.  Over the years she was always active in various church ministries and choirs, enjoyed gardening and square dancing, and even in her final illness kept busy by decorating lunch bags for a food ministry for less fortunate children.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Luther F. Lessard, on November 27, 2011;  a daughter, Dawn Marie Howard on November 1, 2009;

Surviving are her children, Faye & David Kyser of Cedar Springs, Stephen & Lillian Lessard of Greenville, and Charles Lessard of Ionia; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren with a fourth on the way;  brothers  and sisters, Duane Olmstead, Betty Shull, Raymond Gustafson, Polly Oliver, and Bruce & Betty Thompson;  two brothers-in-law, Joe & Gail Lessard, Ronald Lessard;  and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, and from 10-11 a.m. on Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, 12501 Montcalm Avenue N.E., Greenville, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.  The Rev. R. Mark Shaw, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, will officiate and a luncheon will follow the ceremony.  Burial will take place privately at Spencer Mills Cemetery.  Mary enjoyed giving, and those wishing to share a lasting tribute in her memory, should please consider bringing a craft or toy item to included in the Samaritan's Purse – Operation Christmas Child (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/) and  envelopes for memorial contributions to the Building Fund at Calvary Baptist Church will also be available.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Mary's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit:  www.ChristiansenCares.com  Arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville.