Mary Joanna Smith

Mary Joanna Smith, a native of Cleveland Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep of natural causes at the age of 95. Mary liked to tell how she had her third birthday on the train moving to California with her parents Lyda A. and Harry C. Cridge. They settled in the Shingle Springs area where Lyda got a job teaching in the one room schoolhouse at French Creek.

Mary attended all 8 grades at French Creek and also met her future husband, Chauncey J. Smith Jr., a California native there. After grade school Mary attended El Dorado High School, graduating in 1935. She joined the Eastern Star organization in 1936 and received her 75 year membership pin in 2011. After high school she followed in her mother’s footsteps, went on to college, and became a teacher. She married Chauncey on Dec. 27, 1940 and in 1943 moved on to White Oak Ranch in Rescue with her parents where she and Chauncey had three children. Mary loved to teach elementary school kids their reading, writing, and arithmetic, and she got hundreds of them off to a good start during her 20+ year teaching career in Placerville, Rescue, and Mother Lode School Districts.

Mary was preceded in death by Chauncey, her husband of 59 years, and Rosemary J. Smith, her only daughter, and she is survived by two sons; Harry D. Smith (Carol) of La Verne, CA, and C.J. Smith III (Terry) of Rescue, CA. She had 6 grandchildren that she was very proud of; Christopher Smith of Pasadena, Nancy O’ Shaugnessy (Deric) of Santa Rosa, Roma Smith of La Verne, SSgt. Andrew Smith of Reno, NV, Natasha Smith of Las Vegas, NV, Jessica Smith of Tulsa, OK, and one great grandchild, Jordan of Santa Rosa.

An Eastern Star Memorial will be held at Hiram Lodge #25 Free and Accepted Masons, 6201 Main St. (Pleasant Valley Rd.) in El Dorado on Saturday, August 3 at 2:00 p.m.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers all remembrances be made in the form of donations to the Marshall Hospital Foundation, her favorite charity. Online condolences may be posted at chapelofthepinesfunerals.com