Lydia Savannah Smurthwaite

Lydia Savannah Hutchison Cantrell Smurthwaite, 91, of Spanish Fork, Utah, and formerly of Union and La Grande, died Nov. 6 at Lehi, Utah.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Island City Chapel. Viewing runs from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Check out the online guest book at wingmortuary.com.

Lydia was born July 24, 1917, the fourth child and second daughter of David Hutchison and Irlene Simmerman Hutchison in Union. Lydia was raised in the Union and La Grande area. She married Harold "Bus" Cantrell June 7, 1936, and had two daughters who survive her. She loved to sew and made many beautiful quilts. She also did beautiful embroidery and crochet. She worked in retail grocery stores and at one time she and "Bus" each ran a small Mom and Pop grocery store. When her husband suffered a heart attack, she was hired by Dr. Henry C. Smurthwaite a local dentist in La Grande, to be his chair-side dental assistant and office receptionist. After the death of "Bus", she continued working for Dr. Smurthwaite and they retired after 25 years of dentistry. The Smurthwaites moved to Seattle and then to Fresno, Calif., where Mrs. Smurthwaite died.

"Harry" came back to La Grande and eventually after being widowed for 30 years, Lydia married Dr. Smurthwaite and moved to Fresno. In 1999 she suffered a serious stroke and "Harry" died four days later. She moved to Salem where she lived with her daughter, Betty for about a year and a half and then with her daughter Janet for seven and half years, first in Salem and then in Spanish Fork, Utah. She also lived with her granddaughter Ronda Lenox in Layton, Utah. After suffering a broken hip and total hip replacement and then a fractured pelvis, she went to live in Greenwood Manor in Lehi, Utah.

Lydia was a member of the Beaver Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution with membership in Beaverton. She was also a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers with membership in Sunbonnet Camp in Spanish Fork. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and filled a Stake Mission of the Church and was active in the Relief Society and Young Women's programs. One of the things that got Lydia through all of her trials was her terrific sense of humor. She tried to always see the happy side of life. The staff of Greenwood Manor not only took care of her physical needs, but loved her like she was a member of their family.

She is survived by daughters, Janet McManus (Richard) of Spanish Fork, and Betty Bass (Robert) of Salem; seven grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; sister, La Crecia Hutchison DeVore (Dick) of Summerville; brother, Duane Hutchison (Michi) of Aiea, Hawaii; sister-in-law, Elaine Cantrell of La Grande; many nieces and nephews; and the Smurthwaite children.

Memorials may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund, the Humanitarian Aid Fund or the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any local bishop of the LDS Church will give directions on how to do this.

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