Verna J. Smith

We Remember VernaVerna Juanita Smith was born May 15, 1917 in Libby, Montana to Harry and Muriel Steele. She passed into the Presence of her Lord on September 19, 2010 at the age of 93 years of age. As a child, Verna moved with her family to Mount Vernon, WA where her father was a music teacher and Band director for many years. She attended a small Assembly of God Church with her sister and mother. During this time she committed her life to the Lord and started her walk with God, which sustained and nurtured her for her long life.She graduated from Seattle Pacific College with her teaching certificate. She began teaching second grade in Snohomish, WA. She loved the little children and taught first and second grade for 28 years, then retired.Verna met Steve Smith at Calvary Temple and they were married July 23, 1940. They were married for 60 years until her husband passed away in 2000. Verna and her husband attended Calvary Temple most of their married lives. She taught Sunday School class for many years. They both were active members of the Berian class and Verna enjoyed the fellowship with her friends in the Homemaker group.Verna loved to knit and crochet. Her family was blessed with sweaters and other articles of clothing she made for them. A vacation highlight was going fishing. Numerous times her family rented cabins on Whidbey Island for week long fishing expeditions. Photo albums document the suss and good times of those fishing trips. Tent camping was another form of vacationing in the Rocky Mountains. For about 20 years, Verna and Steve had a cabin in Priest Lake, Idaho. They enjoyed summers on the lake, remodeling the cabin, cutting firewood in the mountains, and visiting other family members and friends at their cabins around Priest Lake. Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of vacations with them at their cabin, tubing on the lake and eating smores around the camp fire.The last few years Verna lived at CRISTA Nursing home and then recently moved to Regency Care Nursing Home in Monroe. She developed pneumonia and passed away on September 19, 2010. She is survived by her son, Doug and his wife Kathy; daughter, Jennifer and her husband Skip; and six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.