Mary Rigdon Smith

MARY RIGDON SMITH was born on December 19, 1939 in Kansas City, Kansas and passed away in Clovis, California on December 5, 2016. Mary was the sixth of seven children. When she was in the fifth grade her mother remarried a man with six children and they moved to Deerfield, a small town in Western Kansas, making her one of thirteen children in the family. She graduated from Deerfield High School in a class of approximately six students. Mary was always an avid reader. Her love of reading was probably the reason she wanted to see the world.

After graduating high school Mary moved to California where she started her family. When her children were just 2 and 4 years old she took them, by herself, on a month long train ride from California to Tennessee. Stopping along the way to also see family in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. When her children were young they often drove by car to visit family in Kansas, which was not something women of that time did alone. She had an adventurer’s heart and her love of travel never waned. In 2000 Mary married the love of her life, Daniel Smith, and the travel continued. They traveled to Israel, Sweden, Italy, France, and Spain along with many trips within the United States. Her favorite thing to say to her family when they couldn’t keep up was there was always time to rest when you’re dead.

Mary worked in and retired from the aerospace industry after thirty-five years while raising her two children as a single parent.

Mary also loved Bluegrass. Many a Saturday night was spent in the pizza parlor listening to the Grateful Dudes her favorite Bluegrass Band.

Mary was someone who made friends wherever she went. She loved people unconditionally. Everyone thought they were her favorite because that is how she made them feel.

Mary is survived by her husband, Daniel Smith, children, Kathy Tigchelaar and her husband Gordon, son David Stanfield and his fiancé Lorraine. Five grandchildren, Marie Tigchelaar Wise, Matthew Tigchelaar, Mitchell Tigchelaar, Chelsea Stanfield and Brett Stanfield. Four great-grandchildren, Tess, Sutton, Sullivan and Spencer Wise. Siblings, Frances Skipton, Stella McGinn, James Anderson and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Stonebridge Community Church, 4832 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA. 93063

Remembrances may be sent to Valley Children's Hospital Foundation

9300 Valley Children's Place PC17

Madera CA 93636-8762

Arrangements under the direction of Boice Funeral Home, Clovis, CA.