Eleanor I. Smith, age 97, passed peacefully in Albany, Oregon on February 12, 2019. As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, she was ready and eager to meet her Lord. Her two daughters were with her at the time of death at South Shore Care Home.
Eleanor was born October 6, 1921 in Chariton, Iowa with two aunts assisting her home delivery. Her parents were Ernest W. and Mary Elmeta (Karn) Baumgarten. She enjoyed her childhood in Dallas-Melcher, joining the family who walked weekly to a Lutheran Church for worship services.
During the Depression in 1937, the Baumgarten family moved from Iowa to Grandview, Washington, where her father worked as a foreman for Perham Fruit Company. Eleanor graduated from Grandview High School in 1939 along with her brother Delmer. She married William “Bill” H. Smith of Grandview, Washington on March 9, 1941.
They birthed four children, each of whom believed in Jesus as Lord: Richard Dale, Monte Bruce, Carol Ann, and Lori Denise. All four married strong Christian spouses. Bill and Eleanor were married 57 years before his death in August 1999.
Eleanor was a full time homemaker, competent in hospitality, an artistic seamstress, gardener, and cake decorator. She also worked at Othello Chef Reddy for 13 years in quality control. Bill worked in Grandview at the Perham Fruit Company and Davis-Baxter Produce Company.
He managed Davis-Baxter Produce Company in Quincy. Starting in 1968, they farmed on the Royal and Wahluke Slopes, and worshipped at Nazarene churches in Spokane, Grandview, Quincy, Royal City, and Othello, all in Washington. Eleanor’s parents, her husband, their son Monte, and her siblings Dorothy, Wilber, Delmer, Loren, Lois, and Ivan preceded her in death.
She is survived by son Richard and Lavona Smith of Kenai, Alaska, by daughter-in-law Annette Smith of Anchorage, Alaska, by daughter Carol and Daniel Ketchum of Woodland, Washington, and by daughter Lori and Lee Burkey of Monmouth, Oregon. Eleanor’s legacy also includes 11 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Three sisters-in-law also survive her: Donie Baumgarten, Patricia Moon, and Alice Baumgarten.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Nampa College Church of the Nazarene, 504 E. Dewey Ave. , Nampa, ID 83686. Please designate gifts to Grace Notes Choir, the Church’s senior adult choir in which she sang and where her membership continued until death.
On Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:00 pm, family and friends will gather at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens, 1915 W. Cemetery Road, Othello, Washington. Following interment, family and friends will fellowship with a meal at the Church of the Nazarene, 835 South Tenth Ave. in Othello, Washington.
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