Betty P. Smithe

Betty P. Smithe, age 87, of La Grande, died June 10 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral will be held on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande. Committal and interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Smithe was born on August 6, 1921, the daughter of Charles A. Myers and Ruha G. Burden, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from high school in Indiana and moved to Oklahoma for a time before settling in California. She worked as a hotel clerk in Pasa Robles, California where she got to meet many movie stars. In 1945 she married Clinton L. Smithe and when he was honorably discharged from the service they lived in Albany and Eugene until 1955 when they moved to La Grande. In 1961 she starting working as an accountant for Boise Cascade and she worked there for 25 years. She was a member of the Emblem Club and was one of the first women to become a member of the Elks. She was very active with both for many years. The family had a cabin on Mt. Emily and they spent much time there, She enjoyed huckleberry picking, hunting and fishing. She loved to knit and was famous for her sour dough cinnamon rolls.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Clinton and Peggy Smithe of Imbler; grandchildren, Douglas Smithe of Austin, Texas, Adam Smithe of La Grande, Marcus Smithe of La Grande and Kelli Smithe of Imbler; great grandchildren, Lilyan Smithe and Sarah Smithe of Austin and Ryker Smithe of La Grande; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2000 and three sisters and two brothers.

Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the Casey Eye Clinic in care of Daniels~Knopp.

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