Donna M. Smith

Donna Marie (Breckenridge) Smith, passed from this earthly life into the loving presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 5, 2026.

A life-long resident of Michigan, Donna was the first-born child of Betty (Lutz) and Clare Breckenridge. She was raised in Otisville, a graduate of LakeVille High School class of 1961. While attending college and working as a waitress at a restaurant in Spring Arbor, she met the love of her life, James Smith. Jim proposed to Donna the very first day she waited on his table - prompting her to hide in the kitchen… but his persistence paid off, and six months later they were married.

Donna and Jim made a home in Millington, where they raised their family. Though they dreamed of having ten children, God blessed them with three here on earth, and their hearts were always open to helping raise and care for many other kids along the way. They worked hard for all they had, loved to travel together and visit everyone. After 54 years of marriage, Donna’s life was forever changed in 2019 when Jim unexpectedly was called home to join the Lord and their babies in heaven.

She made a new way forward, moving back to her hometown of Otisville and finding a loving companionship with an old friend from high school – Sam Fackler. Donna was always on the go – shopping, traveling, helping, painting, crafting…generally, she was just ready to go anywhere at any time. She and Sam even participated in the Mackinaw Bridge tractor crossing in 2024. Donna was also an active board member of the Otter Lake Church of the Nazarene.

Donna now joins many dear relatives and loved ones who passed on before her, including her parents Clare Breckenridge and Betty (Lutz) Breckenridge, her sisters Cathy Breckenridge and JoAnn Breckenridge, and her beloved husband James Smith I.

Donna is survived by her daughter Angela (Mark) McConnaughhay, son James Smith II, daughter Juli (Larry) Forsyth, grandsons Kyle Newton and Kane Pyonk, granddaughters Jessica Forsyth and Irene (Tony) Hascall and kids, brothers Gene (Linda) and Jim Breckenridge, sisters Anna Breckenridge (Jim Keidel) and Ruth (Darwin) Groff, and very special friends Sam Fackler, Kathy Monroe (and her children Rob, Lynette, Susan & Ron), Susie and Jesse Couch and Dana Whitehead, along with her church family, numerous nieces, nephews and so many other loved ones and friends.

To know Donna was to love her. If you knew her, you likely knew how much she loved her “bling.” The family invites you to participate in her celebration of life by wearing rhinestones, bright, cheerful colors, glitter, or anything you think she would have loved to the service. The service will be officiated by Pastor Louie Cook and held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026 at Otter Lake Church of the Nazarene, 12351 Lake Rd Otter Lake MI, 48464, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral.