Noreen D. Granger

Noreen D. Smith Granger, 85, born February 26, 1928 in New Brunswick, Canada, the daughter of the late Ralph B. and Alta M. Smith. As a child, she migrated with her parents to Pontiac, Michigan. She began studying piano at a very young age and became the school pianist of both Junior and Senior High School choirs and choral groups. Being very active at the First Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, she became the senior accompanist for the church at age 14. After graduating from Pontiac High School, she went to the Bob Jones College in Cleveland, Tennessee where she furthered her music study and also graduated from their school of business. She went on to Minneapolis Bible College where she was a music major. Coming back to Pontiac, Michigan, she married her lifelong friend, Robert C. Granger in 1950. The love affair began when she started accompanying his male quartet. After being married, she was on staff at Youth for Christ International, Inc., along with her husband. She and her husband were involved in the music ministry at several churches in Michigan, North Carolina and Florida. She played a major part in forming a youth ministry to the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and also a youth ministry in Western North Carolina called “Sound of Youth”. Coming to Florida, she was on staff at the Orlando Baptist Temple. The last active years of her ministry were 13 years at the First Baptist Church of Sorrento, where her husband was Pastor. After retiring, she and her husband purchased a motor home and traveled west to Texas and North East as far as Newfoundland, Canada. They later settled down to a second home on the St. John River in New Brunswick, Canada, where she was born. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert C. Granger, Sr., Grand Island; 3 sons, Robert C. Granger, Jr. (Beth), Eustis, FL, Ted S. Granger, Sr. (Cathy), Sykesville, MD, James B. Granger (Al McCartney), Sorrento, FL; 4 grandchildren, Jeremy Ryan Granger, Jennifer R. Granger, Amanda G. Granger, Steven Granger; 4 great-grandchildren, Garrett Lee Granger, Aubrey Lynn Granger, Brooklyn Elizabeth Granger, Olivia A. Granger. Services will be held at the Harden/Pauli Funeral Home Chapel, Eustis on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 3:00 PM. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Eustis. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.