Marion Stanley Smith died Thursday, February 28, 2013, at Genesis HealthCare Center in Lebanon, N.H. She was born November 19, 1918, in Merchantville, N.J., to Loren Watts & Jessie (Young) Stanley. She was the youngest of eight children. When she was six months old, Marion’s family moved to the Sargent homestead on New Boston Road in Norwich, Vt., where she lived until the age of eight. She often shared her family history and many fond memories of her childhood at this homestead.
Marion married Ralph Arthur Smith, July 5, 1933. The young couple raised their family of six children in Union Village and Norwich, Vt. Ralph, a WWII veteran, predeceased Marion on March 4, 1972. Marion was predeceased by her second son, Stanley Arthur Smith of West Columbia, S. C., on November 14, 2012; two daughters-in-law, Roberta Twiss Smith and Anne Hessler Smith; four grandchildren, Victor Allen Smith, Roxanne Tuttle Ramirez, Patricia Marie Smith and Michael Allen Smith. Marion was also predeceased by her brothers: Farrand, Milan, and Wilbur Stanley; and sisters: Wilma Cook, Iona Stanley, Josie Gardener, and Margaret Fields.
She is survived by three sons; Richard Allen Smith of Wilton, N.H.; Larry Arthur Smith of Wilder, Vt.; Wilfred Eugene Smith of Fredericksburg, Va.; and two daughters, Norma Ellen Tuttle and Joan Marie Laro, both of Wilder; eighteen grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Marion’s children benefited greatly from her being a stay-at-home mom. When her youngest child started school, she eagerly accepted employment at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital (now Dartmouth-Hitchcock) in 1953 and was employed there until her retirement in 1983. Marion worked in several different departments at the hospital and was admired and respected by her peers, supervisors, and the many doctors and nurses whom she came in contact with through her duties. In her retirement years, she was often called upon to care for others who needed healthcare assistance at home in their declining years.
Marion was known for her passion for gardening and love of family and friends and has a long history of being available at any given moment. Her generous nature and sharp wit were appreciated by everyone who knew her. Her quiet demeanor belied the inherent goodness she shared throughout her lifetime. Beyond quiet enjoyment of her family and visits by neighborhood children, many of whom considered Marion to be their adopted grandmother, Marion also channeled much of her abundant energy to create beautiful gardens and handwork. She enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing board games and cards – with any willing participant! She will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory, to David’s House, P. O. Box 660, Lebanon, N.H. 03766. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday March 9th at Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, Vt., followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the Union Village Cemetery at a later date. Condolences may be expressed to Marion’s family in an online guest book at the following online address: www.knightfuneralhomes.com.