Pauline Dell (Youngblood) Smith

Pauline Dell Youngblood Smith, age 91, of La Grande, passed away on May 30, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the Blue Mtn. Humane Association in care of Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

Mrs. Smith was an accomplished genealogist, tracing her family from Germany to Henry L. Shafer, her great-grandfather who was a pioneer on Pumpkin Ridge near Summerville. He was a skilled builder, and constructed many of the original homes in Union County. The house he constructed for his family in "Missouri Hallow" had a ballroom with a circular orchestra bay window. He donated land and built the schoolhouse on Pumpkin Ridge. He was the brother of Isaac Shafer, who came west as a military escort for one of the first wagon trains to pass through the Grande Ronde Valley.

Pauline was married to Wallace Maxwell Smith on April 23, 1938 in Nampa, Idaho. His family had come to Idaho from Texas to find work in the gold mines in Idaho City, Idaho. Max and his father worked on the gold barge and in the mines. Pauline was a waitress in the first A&W Root Beer Stand in Boise. Max, having left the mines operated a popcorn wagon. So the popcorn needed root beer and the root beer needed popcorn. After nearly 60 years of marriage, Max passed away at home in his families care.

Pauline was preceded in death by her half-sister, Odessa Binns and half-brothers, George, Alfred, Hugh, Clyde and Harry Slane.
Pauline and Max's first child, Robert Maxwell and his wife Sandi live in Arizona. His daughter, Tracy Jean and her husband, Gordon, live in Federal Way, Washington and their children, Alexander Maxwell and Benjamin.

Their second child, Anndell Darlene Thompson and her husband, Dan, live in Union. Dan's oldest daughter, Kelly Turk lives in Arizona. Laurie Ann Hansen, his second daughter, lives in Utah with her husband Ken and their children, Darcy, Danny, Kelsey, Benjamin and Samuel. Anndell's daughter, Heather Michelle Scannell lives in Gresham with her husband, Stephen and daughter, Rachel and son, Nathaniel. Her nephew, Dale Alfred Slane lives in Boise.

Pauline will be buried in the Summerville Cemetery, where she will join her husband, Wallace; her father, Harry Youngblood; her grandfather and grandmother Youngblood; her great-grandfather, Henry L. Shafer and her great grandmother, Lucinda Hinkle Shafer.

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