Earlene L Smith

Earlene was born at home, two months prematurely, one of twin girls, in La Salle, Illinois on May 25, 1918, to Lewis E. Garrison, father, and Florence (Crumbacker) Garrison, mother. Her twin sister, Claudene, survived for only three months.

In 1920, she and her parents moved from Illinois to an area near Sedro Wooley, WA, known as The Garden of Eden. Mom often spoke of the time the circus came to town and the elephant got loose and ran through her family’s back yard. In 1921 the family moved to Everett, WA. Her brother, Earl, was born in 1922.

When her family moved to Everett, she attended Longfellow and Washington Elementary Schools, North Junior High School and Everett High School, graduating with the class of 1937. She enjoyed playing the clarinet in the school band.

Growing up as a child of the Depression, mom had to hurry home from school on weekdays to prepare supper, since both of her parents worked to support the family. After high school graduation, mom worked for various families as a childcare provider and housekeeper. Later in life she worked in the Everett Bon Marche restaurant making salads and sandwiches in order to earn enough extra money to buy some new furniture for her living room.

She married Percy Smith on November 11, 1940. Mom and dad were married just shy of 65 years when dad passed away in August of 2005. A year after dad died, mom moved to Washington Oakes. She joked that the building didn’t look that good when she attended school there.

Mom was an average student in school. She loved music and hated history class with “all its dumb dates to memorize.” This from a woman who could rattle off the phone numbers of all of her family and friends. All of the jobs she held were “service” type. These jobs reinforced her feeling that her own worth was tied only to her service to others. The truth is, she was a lovely person who willingly gave of herself to others and did whatever she could to be of help where needed. She spent many hours helping and caring for her own mother and also caring for her father-in-law. She took special care of a neighbor who had no immediate family and was dying of cancer. She cooked and baked for her family, friends and neighbors. She served at her church, Bethel Baptist in Everett, for countless hours and in many ways, most often in the kitchen. She was an excellent seamstress who made most of her daughter’s clothes from elementary through high school and beyond, and gladly sewed for others as she was able. She made countless baby bibs for the church nursery and to give away to church visitors who had babies. She cared for dad throughout his life and during his final days. She willingly put the needs of her family, friends and others before her own. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, or for that matter, the phone number of a friend. While she might have occasionally felt that she was of little value, nothing could be farther from the truth. We valued her highly and miss her deeply. Her sense of humor was unique and put people at their ease. She left a legacy of kindness, thoughtfulness and service that we can only hope to emulate.

Mom was preceded in death by her twin sister, Claudine, parents, Florence and Lewis Garrison, husband Percy E. Smith, and sister-in-law Betty Garrison.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Greg Kuper; grandson, Greg Kuper, Jr.; brother, Earl Garrison; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Washington Oakes for the wonderful care and assistance they gave mom while she lived there; her doctors, Dr. David Erickson and Dr. Purnima Patel for their gentle care; Pastors Wes Johnson and Jake Krestinski for their spiritual care and guidance, family, and friends at Bethel Baptist for their years of friendship and support; and the Providence Hospital and Hospice staff for their care during mom’s final days.

A time of visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010 from 10 – 8 PM at Evergreen. A Memorial service will follow Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Evergreen. Private entombment at Evergreen Mausoleum.

Arrangements are under the care of Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Earlene’s name to Bethel Baptist Church or Providence Hospice.