Mary E. Smith's Obituary
Mary Ethlyn Smith came into the world on December 2, 1919 in Thermopolis, Wyoming. She was the third and last child born to Orson and Frances Jones, preceded by her older brother, Orson Jr, and sister, Glenna. Her father was a Baptist circuit-riding preacher. Wyoming was a rugged country with harsh winters and relentless winds, so when her father got the call to pastor a new church in San Diego, California, he was more than anxious to move his family to the wonderful climate of Southern California!There, in 1924, he started the University Avenue Baptist Church which later renamed Grace Baptist Church. That church was where Mary grew up, was baptized, met Stuart Smith, and was married. It was where her children and most of her grandchildren were born and raised, baptized, and married. It was the center of her life from birth to death. Even while she was in a skilled nursing facility she was always asked if someone would take her to her church!Mary attended Edison Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High, and graduated from San Diego High School in 1937. She attracted the eye of Stuart Smith when he was 16 years old and she was only 12. After she graduated from high school, they were married in 1937 on New Year’s Eve and were married for 49 years until his sudden and unexpected death in 1986. Mary remained a widow for 30 years.Stuart was a San Diego Police Officer and Mary was a housewife for most of their marriage. After the birth of their last child, she wanted to venture out into the working world. She worked for a short time at The Morris Plan Company, then in the jewelry department at Fedco, and finally found her niche as the finance secretary at Lewis Junior High in Allied Gardens, from which she eventually retired.Always at the center of Mary’s life was her family: her husband Stuart; her four children Jerry, Judy, Sterling, and Ina; her 10 grandchildren Alison, Brad, Jim, Christopher, Laurie, Erik, Jeremy, Rogie, Dawna, and Hollie; and her 26 ½ great-grandchildren!Mary left this life for a new home in Glory on Sunday night, May 29th. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. But we are comforted to know that she is with the Lord, and that when we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
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