Obituary: Edith Lytle, 89, formerly of Ludington

Edith Lytle

On October 24, 2024, Edith Anna (Spear) Lytle left her physical body peacefully and danced into the arms of Jesus, an experience she had looked forward to with great anticipation.

Edith, or Edie as she liked to be called, began her life on May 9, 1935, the daughter of R.T. Spear and Doris (Bordine) Spear.  Her spirited personality, snappy quips, servant’s heart and generosity touched countless lives in her 89 years.

Edie married the great love of her life, (Donald) Keith Lytle, on June 20, 1953. They quickly added four daughters, Vicki, Robin, Debbie and Carol, to their family and made their home in Flint, Michigan, where Edie worked as a nurses’ aid for many years. They were actively involved in their church and she always looked back on their mission trip to El Salvador as a highlight of their service there.

As their daughters grew and married and added children of their own to the family, Edie and Keith took great joy in hosting as many of their grandchildren and their friends as possible every summer at their cabin outside Baldwin. It was a welcoming space where countless happy memories were made while fishing, swimming, and laughing around the campfire.

She made the best buckeyes, potato salad, baked beans, and molasses cookies. Edie had the biggest sweet tooth of anyone you’ve ever met. Before her eyes and hands began to fail her, she loved to knit and make gifts for her loved ones and to share. When Edie and Keith moved to Ludington in the early 1990s, they became known as Grandma and Grandpa at their home church of Prayer & Praise Assembly of God where they loved and laughed with anyone and everyone. Edie traveled with the church to serve on a missions trip in Jamacia and was so proud to have been a part of that mission.

Edie was a faithful caretaker to her husband in the later years of his life as he was a heart transplant patient. They were married for 44 years before he passed from earth to Heaven in 1997 and Edie spent the rest of her days anticipating being reunited with him.

In August of 2020, she moved to Grand Oaks Nursing Center in Baldwin to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. The staff cared and loved her. She attended and became known as GG at Baldwin Assembly of God.

Edie also longed to be reunited with her oldest and youngest daughters, Vicki (Gary) Johnson and Carol (James) LaFreniere who left this earth before her.

She leaves behind her two middle daughters, Robin (Dennis) Ackerman and Debra (Timothy) Alley, 10 grandchildren who were the light of her life, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Edie’s vibrant life will be held on Saturday, November 2 at Baldwin Assembly of God Church. Family/friends visitation will be at 1 p.m. with a celebration service at 2 p.m. Donations can be made to The River Community Center, PO Box 573, Baldwin, MI 49304.