Shirley Smith

Shirley Smith passed away peacefully at her home in Christmas Village in Shelton, WA on February 13, 2023 at the age of 89. She was born January 29, 1934 in Fresno, CA, the only child of Kenneth Taylor and Mildred (Benson) Rick.

Shirley graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1952, and had one year of junior college in Fresno. She worked as a draftsman for the County Assessor's office in Fresno and met Ralph A. Smith, a policeman for the City of Fresno. They married in 1955 in Nevada and raised three children in Fresno.

Shirley loved knitting, traveling, photography, her gardens and her dogs. After retirement, Shirley and Ralph moved to Oakhurst, CA where they joined the Golden Chain Theater, and where they both sang and danced. Shirley was also a member of the Sweet Adeline's. They loved to travel with a large group of fellow motorcyclists and enjoyed seeing the hot air balloon festival in Arizona. They moved to Shelton, WA around 1994, and lived there until their deaths. Shirley was a volunteer member of the Mason General Hospital Auxiliary as Treasurer.

She was preceded in death by her husband and one granddaughter, Sonnie Lawson, her son-in-law Harold Lawson, and her daughter-in-law Nancy Smith. She is survived by her two daughters, Linda Richardson (Thom) of Clovis, CA, and Diane Lawson of Shelton, and her son Duane Smith of Petrolia, CA; also survived by granddaughters, Elizabeth Lipschitz, Ashley Smith, Sarah Lawson, and grandson Gabriel Lawson; three great-granddaughters and one great-grandson, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She will be cremated by the Neptune Society. No services are scheduled.