Elaine U. Ryder, 95, passed away peacefully at Golden Orchards in Fennville on Friday, May 23, 2014. Elaine was born and raised in New Jersey, and moved to the Chicago area where she was married to Ray Ryder for 40 years until his death in 1981. She then moved to Springfield, IL, and has lived in Fennville for the past five years. Elaine was a funny, feisty lady and always involved in civic and church activities. She was the first woman at the LaGrange (IL) First United Methodist Church to be chairman of the Board of Trustees. In Springfield, she was very involved as a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church: choir, Deacon, circle leader, church librarian, founder of the children's library, and assisted in the formation of the church 'Knit 2, Purl for Mission' knitting group. She was also in PEO, Chapter FU in Springfield. She is survived by her children, Susan (Roland) Cull of Springfield, Barb (Ed) Welk of Fennville, and Jack (Deb) Ryder of LaGrange Park, IL; her grandchildren, Sarah (Derrick) Pehlman, Deborah (Robert) Sanders, Nicole (Greg)Carlson, Doug (Brittany) Welk & Laura (Doug) Hartman; eight great-grandchildren, Lydia and Drew Pehlman, Grace, Isabel , Maggie, and Sam Carlson, Elaine Sanders, and Mykah Welk; nephews Win (Mary) Ryder of Fennville, Dave (Jan) Ryder also of Fennville, Ronald (Pam) Knief of Albuquerque, Patricia Lessig of Belle Vernon, PA, and Dick (Vicki) Knief of Fishers, IN. A gathering will be held on Saturday, June 7 at Golden Orchards at 11 a.m. All present and former employees are invited to attend, as you have been our family mainstay for the past 5 years. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Holland 270 Hoover Blvd. Holland, MI 49423, Golden Orchards 2464 55th St. Fennville, MI 49408, or to the Saugatuck-Douglas Garden Club Scholarship fund. An online registry book is available at www.chappellfuneralhome.com