SMILEY, V. Nevada: Died 1967

SMILEY, SMITH, CLARK, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/9/2017 at 09:04:52

MRS. THOMAS R. SMILEY

V. Nevada Smith, daughter of Mary Rebecca Clark and Sylvester Lorenzo Smith, was born in La Platta County, Colorado, on Feb. 21, 1883.

Her father died when she was less than two and a half years old. About three years later she came to Iowa to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Clark, and attended school at Eagle Dist. No. 8, Liberty township Jefferson County, Iowa.

She united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethel when 11 years old, and was baptized by Rev. John Fraker. Shortly after this she moved with her family to Libertyville, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church there until, some years later, she transferred by letter to the First Methodist Episcopal church in Yakima, Wash.

As a young woman she taught school for three years in the rural schools of Jefferson County, Ia.

She was married in Libertyville to Thomas R. Smiley, on Dec. 21, 1904. They resided with her uncle Manford Clark, and cared for Mr. Clark's motherless little girls for five years (until his remarriage).

On March 2, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Smiley left Iowa for Yakima, Wash., where they then resided for many years. Mr. Smiley developed a sixty acre orchard in the Naches Heights area. He also owned and operated The Economy Fuel Company in Yakima for 24 years, until his retirement in 1957.

Mrs. Smiley had been a member of the Fruitvale Woman's Christian Temperance Union since 1914, and was president of that organization for about 28 years. She also held county offices, was State Director of Scientific Temperance Instruction for Eastern Washington for a periods of six years, State Director of Exhibits and Fairs for eight years, and was three times elected delegate to the national W.C.T.U. convention.

For more than 30 years she was a member of the Yakima Garden Club.

Mrs. Smiley had been a widow for one year when she passed away Feb. 8, 1967 after a long illness.

She is survived by a half-sister, Mrs. George F. Williams of Fort Collins, Colo. and three nephews, George Williams of Fort Collins, John and Bob Williams of Caldwell, Idaho.

Funeral services were held at The Garden Chapel, Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home, Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ac C. Wischmeier, pastor, First Methodist church, Yakima, officiating. Interment at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

**Handwritten: Rec-Rep. 23 Feb. 1967

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book J, Page 74, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA