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Alta Faye Smith
10/23/1913 — 01/08/2014
From Kennewick, WA, US | Born in Joplin, MO
Alta Faye Smith
Alta Faye Corkins Smith, 100, was born Oct 23, 1913, in Joplin, Missouri. She died Jan 8, 2014 at home in Kennewick with her daughters by her side. She called it her great homecoming to be with her savior.
Alta was the only child of Romand Jack and L. Ethel Reynolds Corkins. She attended grade school in Joplin. She moved to Miller, Kansas to work in her aunt's restaurant and attend high school, graduating in 1931. She received a state award as the lead in a one act play and for Declamation. She married her high school sweetheart, Derald Smith Aug 22, 1936, and they moved to Topeka, Kansas. She attended Business College and worked as a receptionist in a doctor's office. Their first 3 children were born there.
In 1943 she moved the kids to Yakima while Derald worked on the Manhatten Project and she worked for another doctor. The family moved to Richland in 1945. Her fourth child was born in Richland. She was active in church, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. At church she was a senior adult Sunday school teacher, bible school teacher, past missionary president, and board member.
She retired as a medical receptionist from Dr. Ellner's office.
She was a voracious reader, studied her Bible daily, sewed, knitted, crocheted, and her favorite was tatting. She loved gadgets, high heels and technology. She used her computer to write her first 50 years memoirs and shop for books, even at 100.
Her faith and family were the most important in her life.
She is preceded in death by her husband Derald Smith in 1988.
She is survived by her children Bill Donna Smith, Surprise, AZ, Karl Charlene Smith, Salem, OR, Nancy Jerry Bruce, Addy, WA, Linda Jim Davis Kennewick, WA, 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one due in March, and 2 great great grandchildren.
A special thanks to Martha DeAnda and to Hospice staff.
Memorials may be made to Disabled American Vets, Hospice or the Richland Nazarene church. Graveside service was held on Jan 14. Memorial service will be Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 2 pm at the Richland First Church of the Nazarene at 2500 Jericho Rd. Richland.
Mrs. Smith, and yes, I always called her “Mrs”, even though I have known her my entire life. That is just the way it was back then. She and her husband were very good friends with my momma and daddy, Robley and Reubie Johnson. I grew up with her youngest daughter Linda. Mrs. Smith was a very sweet and gentle spirit, and always made you feel good to be around her. She was the only one of my parents friends who called me by my full name of Mary Catherine. I actually liked it, made it seem special. If memory serves me correctly, and I am reaching back, I got a snow white kitten from the family and named it Pyewacket, after the cat in the movie Bell, Book and Candle. I loved that cat.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and especially Linda, whom I have known for at least 58 years. 100 years…incredible, we should all be so blessed.
Dear Smith Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Death is something that pains us all, we never want to see our love ones go. I will like to send my condolence to the family and friends, as well as, to share a comforting scripture. It’s Rev 21:4- ” And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” May this scripture bring comfort to you all, for this is a loving promise from our heavenly Father, a promise that soon all suffering will end, especially death.
Mrs. Smith, and yes, I always called her “Mrs”, even though I have known her my entire life. That is just the way it was back then. She and her husband were very good friends with my momma and daddy, Robley and Reubie Johnson. I grew up with her youngest daughter Linda. Mrs. Smith was a very sweet and gentle spirit, and always made you feel good to be around her. She was the only one of my parents friends who called me by my full name of Mary Catherine. I actually liked it, made it seem special. If memory serves me correctly, and I am reaching back, I got a snow white kitten from the family and named it Pyewacket, after the cat in the movie Bell, Book and Candle. I loved that cat.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and especially Linda, whom I have known for at least 58 years. 100 years…incredible, we should all be so blessed.
Dear Smith Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Death is something that pains us all, we never want to see our love ones go. I will like to send my condolence to the family and friends, as well as, to share a comforting scripture. It’s Rev 21:4- ” And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” May this scripture bring comfort to you all, for this is a loving promise from our heavenly Father, a promise that soon all suffering will end, especially death.
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Alta Faye Smith