Olive "Lee" Smith

Surrounded by children and grandchildren, Olive Lucille “Lee” Smith passed away September 27, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw. Born in Clio on December 5, 1930, Lee graduated from Hurley Hospital School of Nursing in 1952 with an RN degree. She worked at Tolfree Memorial in West Branch, and was Director of Nursing at both Ogemaw Valley Medical Facility in Rose City and Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska until her retirement in 1980. She was married to William J. Smith for 54 years until his death in 2006. The couple lived in West Branch from 1960 until 1974 when they moved to Anchorage, Alaska. They returned to Michigan in 1986, and Lee lived in West Branch since 2006.

Besides visiting with family and friends and shopping on QVC, Lee’s favorite pastime was reading. She often said that she had been everywhere in the world and traveled through space and time through her precious books. Lee had a particular talent for memorizing poetry. She especially looked forward to family gatherings and will be sorely missed, including at the Gray and Smith family reunions in Alaska and Michigan.

Lee was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Grace Gray, a brother Pat Gray, her sister, Wanda Ide, and a daughter, Ann Marie Smith. She leaves 6 children: John (Arlene) Smith of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Jane (Doug) Barbour of Au Gres, and Michelle (Chris) Johansen, Michael Smith, David (Patti) Smith, and Dana (Shon) Dozark, all of Anchorage, Alaska; 3 brothers: Robert (Toni) Gray of Arizona, Michael (Mariann) Gray of Arizona, and Brian (Diane) Gray of West Branch, and her sisters-in-law, Shirley Gray of Mt. Morris and Barb Smith of Ohio. She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 beginning at 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 3:00 p.m. Pastor Brenda Klacking will officiate. Burial will be at Flint Memorial Park on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

Lee felt strongly about sharing what she had with those less fortunate, particularly school-aged children. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Surline Elementary School to continue her tradition of giving.