Mary Smith

Mary “Eleanor” Smith “Miss Elli” of Selah passed away peacefully Tue Oct 29th at Cottage in the Meadow. She was born to Fred and Mary Wilson in Isabel, SD. The Family moved to Coeur d’ Alene when she was a young girl. She graduated valedictorian and went on to college to become a teacher where she taught the first grade. On summer vacation, she met her husband Dan Smith at the Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho. It was a match that lasted for 69 years. After they married, they moved to Wapato where they opened an electric contracting business. They started their family and Mary Eleanor resumed her teaching career in the Wapato school district. After 10 years they moved to Union Gap and opened Smith Electric. She taught in the Union Gap Elementary for several years before retiring from teaching and keeping the books for the family business Smith Electric. Eleanor and Dan semi retired in 1980 and they started wintering in Palm Desert, CA. They traveled all over the United States and Canada and Europe. Eleanor had a tremendous eye for antiques. She loved them so much she opened two shops. She made it her hobby to buy stock for her two stores. She would joke and say “ It’s my Therapy”. She also had a love for astrology, so much that she became certified to teach it. In 1962 they decided to move to Selah and later to build an airstrip on their property. They always did everything together so they both became pilots. They enjoyed many joyous fly-ins. She and Dan joined the Wenas Saddle Club in Selah. They had many happy events and big parties at the ranch with the club for all her kids. Eleanor was wise beyond her years. Her heart was always open to her family and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Patricia Smith passed in 1987 and her son Fred Smith passed in 2012; her brothers John and Dick Wilson. She is survived by her husband Dan of Selah; daughter Dana Smith of Palm Springs, CA; and her son Steven (Debbie) Smith of Seattle, WA; three grandchildren, a great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews; and of course her dog ITSY. In lieu of flowers, Eleanor would have wanted a donation be made to the Yakima Humane Society. The family is hosting a memorial service at the Unity Church on S 8th Ave on Sat. Nov 9th at 1pm. Please share your memories and condolences with the family online at www.valleyhillsfh.com. Valley Hills Funeral Home and Crematory in Yakima is handling the arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Smith, please visit our flower store.