Shirley Ann (Smith) Bismark

Shirley Ann Bismark, 82, of  Houghton Lake passed away on Sunday August 17, 2025 at home with her loving family by her side.

Shirley was born on October 11, 1942 in Saginaw, Michigan to Herbert and Helen (Courneya) Smith. She moved to the Houghton Lake area at the age of three and grew up in the area, graduating from Houghton Lake High School. Shirley went on to attend Ferris State University.  She worked as a Legal Secretary for 30 years with Central Michigan University and then went on to work another 15 years in Indiana and Ohio.She  then returned to Houghton Lake for her retirement years. Shirley was a member of  the Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, and a Past Honor Queen of Job's Daughters. Shirley was always an adventurous and fearless lady. She loved traveling and was boating, water skiing, and parasailing well into her sixties.  She and her husband Robert flew in a helicopter to the top of an Alaskan Mountain and rode dog sleds back to the bottom while Shirley was in her seventies. When not satisfying her sense of adventure. Shirley's favorite love was spending time with her family and doting on her emotional support dog and companion, Gigi, a tiny poodle, who was always dressed in the latest fashion whether out on the town or simply sitting at home with "Granny".

Surviving Mrs. Bismark are her two daughters, Tammy Balyo of Roscommon, and  Tricia(Anthony) Rodebaugh of Houghton Lake; son, Timothy(Esther) Lord of Lansing; nine grandchildren; Ashley Lord, Alyssa Johnson, Alexis Lord, Amber Lord, Andrea Lord, Kayla Kaufman, Teagan Rummelt, Justin(Kate) Balyo, and Timothy L. Lord, Jr.; thirteen great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Harvey L. Lord; her second husband, Robert H. Bismark; and her brother Herbert J. Smith III. 

Funeral Services for Shirley Ann Bismark will be conducted at 11:00am on  Thursday August 21, 2025 from Christler Funeral Home, Houghton Lake Chapel with Fr. Brian Chace officiating. Interment will be in Roscommon Township Cemetery, Houghton Lake. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 10:00am until the time of the service at 11:00am. Memorial contributions in memory of Shirley are asked to be directed to Shriner's Hospital for Children, Attn: Shriners Children's, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394. Christler Funeral Home, Houghton Lake Chapel is serving the family. Condolences can be sent to the family online at www.christler-holdship.com 

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