Joan Ellis Smithers

Joan Ellis Smithers was born October 27, 1927 in Omaha Nebraska. She was the oldest child of Wyman D. Ellis of Kingsley, Iowa and Ethel Lillian Carter of Des Moines, Iowa. Joan was preceded in death by her younger brother, David Ellis. Joan & David and their two cousins spent their early years cared for by their grandmother during the day since all the parents had to work to support the households during the depression. High School years were spent in Glen Ellen, Illinois where Joan was very popular. She joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority at University of Illinois her freshman year and also met Ted Smithers, the man she would marry. Less than one year later, they married the day after Christmas and would have been married 70 years this past December.  Ted received many job promotions over the years, taking the family all across the country from Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, New Jersey and finally to Laguna Beach, where Joan's mother lived.  In 1961, Ted started his own business in Southern CA and Joan was primarily a homemaker. Joan was an excellent cook and prided herself in taking care of her family.  She loved her two Shit Tzu’s, Mai Li and Corky as well as her cats.  Over the years in her free time, she enjoyed furniture refinishing, reading, entertaining and socializing with friends. Joan went back to college in her 40’s and learned to speak Spanish.   She worked for several years as a bilingual aid for the Fullerton school district.  In 1992, tired of the traffic, smog and too many people in Orange County, Joan and Ted moved to Chico where their son Dave had gone to college.  Although they loved living in Chico, poor health necessitated a move back to Orange County to be cared for by their daughters. Ted moved to Sunrise Senior Community in 2014 and Joan moved in with Tracy and Gregg in Dec 2015.  Joan is survived by her daughters, Kathi Shaheen (Ron) and Tracy Williams (Gregg), and son Dave Smithers, grandchildren, Brian Duke and Haley Williams.  A small family service is being held at Riverside National Cemetery with luncheon to follow at Mission Inn, Riverside.