Individual Details

Death

Gloria Jean "Sammie" Smith, 83, of Vancouver, WA, died Fri. night, Jan. 30, 2009. She was born Sept. 20, 1925 in Crystal Springs, MS to the late William Louis Furr and Thelma Stamps Furr. Gloria graduated from Crystal Springs Consolidated School in 1943 and received a degree in art from Bellhaven College of Jackson, MS in 1947. She married John S. Smith in 1951. They lived in Baytown, TX, before relocating to Vancouver in 1985. Gloria was the consummate wife and mother. She had an adventurous spirit and led an active life to the very end. She skydived at age seventy-six and two years later visited Machu Picchu and sailed the Amazon river. The sunshine of her smile, gaiety of her laughter and gift for storytelling made her many friends. Gloria is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years; and three children: Charles, Steve and Eugenia. She is also survived by her brother, William "Sonny" Furr of Crystal Springs, MS; as well as six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Adrienne; and a sister, Jimmie Lou Furr Sutton of Creola, AL. A viewing will be held at 2:00 p.m., Fri., Feb. 6, 2009 at Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, WA, with services to follow at 3:00 p.m.
Published in The Columbian on 2/4/2009