Elizabeth Hentchel (Smith/Younger), age 102, died on April 30th at the Laclede Groves skilled nursing facility. She was born on September 16, 1914 in Ionia County Michigan to Roger and Jennie (Coleman) Smith. Her early years were spent on a farm, tending lambs & chickens, among other duties. The family later moved to Portland Michigan. She attended Michigan State University, where she met her future husband, Fred Younger. After graduating with a degree in Home Economics, she & Fred were married in 1938. Fred was offered jobs in Minneapolis and St. Louis. Elizabeth wanted warmer, not colder, so they moved to St. Louis in 1941. They moved to the countryside of south St. Louis County in 1951, with room for a large garden, a small barn, a horse, a pool and many children. Elizabeth was a busy housewife, gardener, 4H and Girl Scout leader until 1959, when she began teaching elementary school in the Hancock Place district, where she worked until retirement.

Fred Sr died in January 1969. Elizabeth then married William Hentchel, a principal in the Hancock Schools, in June of 1970, becoming a stepmother to his 4 grown children and 3 still at home. Family gatherings grew quite large with the arrival of two more generations of offspring, and family reunions were required to get the entire clan together. Elizabeth loved to travel and visited Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, North Africa and most of the United States.

Bill Hentchel Sr. passed away in 2012. Elizabeth is survived by her sister Barbara Bornyasz of Phoenix Arizona; her four children, Alice Havard, Marian Schumaker, Nancy Marcus, Fred Younger Jr.; her seven stepchildren, Bill (Linda) Hentchel Jr., Tedi (Bob) Dobbs, David (Melody) Hentchel, Rick (Debbie) Hentchel, Tim (Stephanie) Hentchel, Kate (Bob) Zacher, Mark Hentchel; nieces and nephews; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Laclede Groves for their caring and professional assistance during her last days. Gifts to charity would be appreciated in lieu of flowers. Some of Elizabeth’s favorites were Feed My People (www.feed-my-people.org), Carondelet United Church of Christ, the Audubon Society, the American Cancer Society and Missouri Botanical Gardens. A gift to a charity of your choice would also honor her memory. A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced.