Harriet Ruth Smith

HARRIETT RUTH SMITH A forty-five year resident of the Peninsula, Harriett R. Smith, 94, died April 17, 2013 in Ilwaco. A native of Tacoma, Washington, she was the daughter of Carlton and Hazel (Andy) Gould. At birth, Harriett weighed a mere 3 pounds and was only a foot in length. By age three she traveled with her family to Oregon where the family settled in Victory Heights, an area just east of Gresham. Harriett recalled that he father bought a new Model T Ford for the tripchassis only. He custom built the rest if it from the "body up---cab and all". Harriett graduated from Gresham High School with the class of 1936. Following high school she did odd jobs until attending Bible school in Seattle. There she met her future husband, William "Bill" Smith. They were married April 17, 1946. Bill was a traveling evangelist for the Assembly of God church and Harriett was a faithful pastor's wife as well as mother to four children. She resided in Vader, Kalama and Battleground among other locations before settling locally. Throughout her life Harriett was strong and committed in her Christian faith. She often said "God always had my life planned for me" and she never wavered. She was a founding member of the Gresham Assembly of God church and her name is inscribed on the church cornerstone. Harriett moved to the Peninsula in 1969, settling north of Long Beach. She was a distributor for the evening Oregon Journal newspaper, now merged with The Oregonian. She attended church locally, wrote poetry and supported three over-seas children as part of her faith. Harriett was preceded in death by her husband Bill; by sons Ivan and Theron and by daughter Theral. A son Dale Smith resides in Maine and several members of her extended family also survive. Funeral service will be held Monday, April 22, 2013, 2:00 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in Long Beach. Concluding graveside rites follow at Lone Fir Cemetery. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.