Tributes

Private Family Graveside at Finley Sunset Hills Cemetery- Portland Edna Frieda (Wentland) Smith was born in Stewart, Minnesota on February16, 1915 at the time World War I was raging. She was born into a time of turmoil and invention, and life in this United States has not changed much throughout the following 101 years of her life. She is quoted as saying “I don’t think my grandchildren could visualize how things were when I was young…Maybe “ ‘Little House on the Prairie ‘ would be like it, but not really” Things were much tougher for her. But her life was also filled with wonderful moments. She had nine brothers and sisters and was the youngest in the family. Married to Lloyd Smith in San Francisco in 1937, they had three children: Kathleen Ann (Morrison), Layton Lloyd, and Madalyn Corinne (Duncan), seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Her brothers and sisters all predeceased her. She was an amazing homemaker, cook and baker. Her children always had wonderful meals and clean, pressed clothes even if she had to make them herself and mend them. Dad worked hard to provide a good living and Mom made the best of the money available especially during the Great Depression, World War II and during the 50’s with three children at home. When Dad retired they travelled to numerous places in Arizona, California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Canada. She absolutely loved to travel by car as a passenger, all the better to see all the sites and scenery. But her favorite travel stop was the ocean where she could spend hours watching the waves, walking the beach and collecting sea shells. Her 100th Birthday was celebrated by family on the cliffs above Depoe Bay, Oregon where the waves crash and spray against the rocks. She loved to garden, window shop, go antiquing, bake, put together puzzles and travel. She was always up for adventure and seeing new things and was an avid reader (mysteries and hospital novels were her favorite). In later years she continued to travel with her children. She went to Hawaii and took a long scenic trip down the California coast to the redwoods, and to the places she’d live with Dad in San Francisco. Always immaculately dressed, every hair in place with makeup and lipstick, she always received compliments. She continued living alone, gardening, cooking, and baking right up to her last days. She had a quirky sense of humor and enjoyed hearing her children laugh together…. She was/is an amazing woman and we will miss her terribly. But she is also very fortunate since she is spending Christmas with Jesus and who could ask for a better Christmas present than that for her?

Tributes

Edna Frieda Smith

February 16, 1915 - December 14, 2015