Elaine Clinesmith

Elaine D. Clinesmith, age 81, passed away Thursday, July 30, 2009 at St. Marys of Michigan in Saginaw. Elaine was born August 1, 1928 at the family home in rural Reese, the daughter of the late Herman & Ethel (Gulliver) Kratz. She was united in marriage with Cecil E. Clinesmith on June 7, 1947 at her mothers home on Hooper Street in Caro. Elaine spent her entire adult life providing care to adults, starting with Fishers Nursing Home and then Lapeer Hospital before starting her own adult foster care home near Shay Lake, which she ran for the next thirty years, retiring two years ago. In addition to her husband of over sixty-two years, Cecil E. Clinesmith, Elaine is survived by two sons and their spouses, Devere & Becky Clinesmith of Ontonagon, Dean & Janet Clinesmith of Silverwood; four grandchildren, Damian, Jason, Erin and Curtis Clinesmith; four great-grandchildren, Michael, Karson, McKenzie and Jordan; three brothers, Herman, Leo and Dean Kratz and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Elaine was preceded in death by three brothers, Thurman, Charles and Robert Kratz, and one sister, Janice Gould.