Irene Mabel Smith

Irene Mabel Smith, age 91, beloved wife and mother, born February 1, 1920, to John and Mabel Poage in Kuna, Idaho, and passed into eternal life on February 14, 2011. She graduated from high school in Nyssa, Oregon in 1938 and attended Oregon State University for two years. She married Wilbur W. Smith of Nyssa, Oregon on February 2, 1943, in Merced, California, where Wilbur was teaching Flight School in the Army Air Corps.

Irene and Wilbur spent 23 yeats in the Air Force and lived in New Mexico, Texas, Washington, the Washington DC area, Alabama and Tokyo, Japan. They retired to their ranch in High Valley, Oregon in 1964. In 1994 they sold the ranch and moved into their home in La Grande. Irene was very active in the Cove Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School and active in supporting Missions, among other things. She enjoyed drawing and painting her entire life and left her family many beautiful paintings.

Irene is survived by her husband, Wilbur of La Grande; her sister, Phyllis Jensen of Eugene, Oregon; her children, Dee Hadley Thompson of Twin Falls, Idaho, Ken Smith of Ontario, Oregon, Tamara Smith Kinney of Aloha, Oregon and Patrick Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico and six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande. Graveside services will be held on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. MST (3:00 p.m. PST) at Hilltop Memorial Cemetery in Nyssa, Oregon. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the First Baptist Church in La Grande in care of Daniels~Knopp.

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