Fay Smith

Fay (Galbraith) Smith April 9, 1923 ~ January 17, 2015 Fay Smith, 91, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2015, from natural causes at her retirement home in Kirkland, WA with her family at her side. She was born Aletha Fay on April 9, 1923, in Okanogan, WA to Andrew and Elizabeth (Cole) Galbraith, youngest of five children. Her grandparents, from Kentucky and North Carolina, were early settlers of the Bridgeport Bar. Her family moved to Chelan, then Cashmere during the Depression, finally settling in East Wenatchee in 1937, and graduating from Wenatchee High School in 1941. Fay met Howard Smith of Santa Barbara, CA at a USO dance in Wenatchee while he was stationed there in 1941, based out of Fort Lewis as part of the 144th Field Artillery from California. Fay then moved to Seattle, attended business college and worked for the Department of Interiors and Army Corps of Engineers. Married on July 18, 1942 in Seattle, and after Howard's discharge from the Army, they settled in East Wenatchee to raise their four children. Fay lived most of her life within sight of the Columbia River and appreciated the beauty of the Wenatchee Valley. Fay had a lifelong desire to finish her education and started attending Wenatchee Valley College in 1964. She went on to graduate with a teaching degree from Central Washington University in 1968, and became an elementary teacher at Rock Island Elementary school for 14 years. Hobbies included baking, reading, her little dogs and she spent many pleasurable hours researching her family's genealogy. Her greatest joy was gardening and growing family heirloom green beans. A love of history found her traveling to England, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Charleston, SC, and America's historic sites with family. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, Mary Ruth Circle and a 31-year volunteer at Confluence Health Central Washington Hospital. Fay quietly recognized the needs of others and most willingly gave of her time and spirit. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Howard, in 2002; sisters, Beatrice Leese, Dorothy Pollman, and Louise Phillips; and brother, Max Galbraith. She is survived by her children, Terry Vaughan (Chuck) of Tacoma, WA, Marilyn Hinshaw of East Wenatchee, Debbie Abdallah (Paul) of Bellevue, WA, and Mark Smith (Monica) of Whidbey Island, WA; grandchildren, Chad Curtis, Courtney Leaf, Emily Smith, Patrick Smith, Lindsay Hinshaw, and Christopher Hinshaw; as well as three great-grandchildren; nieces, Sue Johnson, Janet DeFelice, Carol Schlerf, and Cathy Haas; and nephew, Bill Mathison. Private Graveside Service for family will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park, followed by a Celebration of Fay's Life for family and friends at the Country Inn Restaurant, Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee on Saturday, January 24, 2015, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. For tributes and condolences, visit telfordschapel.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 55, Wenatchee, WA 98807.

Fay Smith

April 9, 1923 - January 17, 2015