Beth M. Smith

Beth M. Smith, age 89, passed away on Nov. 1 2006 in Woodridge, Va. (Washington D.C. area.) Beth was born on Dec. 22, 1916 in the train depot in Tetonia, Idaho where her father, John W. Likins served as stationmaster. Beth was delivered by two midwives who arrived in waist-deep snow during a raging blizzard. Her father served with the Union Pacific Railroad in towns all over Idaho. She spent the first grade in New Meadows and lived in the train station there in 1923. Later, the family moved to Caldwell, where Beth was raised. Beth graduated from Caldwell High School in 1933 and attended the College of Idaho, where she was a cheerleader and turned handsprings the entire length of the football field when the C of I defeated the University of Idaho. In 1935 she won the State of Idaho singles tennis championship, and she was also a member of the championship doubles team. Beth married N. E. "Coley" Smith in 1935, and they made their home in Caldwell. She moved to Boise in 1943 while Coley served under General Patton in the European Theater. In 1945 Beth and Coley moved to Caldwell to raise their family. They had a summer home in Cascade and spent significant time in Warm Lake, as her sister Lucille Wilkie (and her husband Waldo) owned North Shore Lodge. Beth's husband, Coley Smith, served as Mayor of Caldwell from 1963 to 1969 and Beth was continuously noted as a most gracious hostess for various civic events. Coley served on the Caldwell City Council for many years and was the President of the Idaho League of Cities. Beth was an avid flower gardener and pianist. A woman of great physical beauty, tireless energy, personal warmth and enthusiasm for life, Beth was greatly loved by those who knew her. It was accurately said about Beth that "she always found something to be happy about." She rejected negative thoughts and said, "Everything always works out for the best." Beth had a great passion for all things Idaho: Caldwell, Warm Lake, Cascade and McCall in particular. Beth is survived by her sons, Denison E. Smith of Washington D.C., and Randall N. Smith and his wife Marlyn a Friend, of Los Angeles, four grandchildren: Wendy Beth Smith and her husband Simon Lewis of San Francisco, Ryan Tylee Smith and his wife Christa of Washington, D.C., James A Rooney III and his wife Karen, of New York City and Arianna Beth Smith of Washington., D.C.; three great-grandchildren: Saiorse Ruth Lewis and Finn Denison Lewis of San Francisco and Ella Marie Smith of Washington D.C. Her three nephews were of special importance to her: James Wilkie of Los Angeles, Richard Wilkie of Amherst, Mass. and Glenn Watkins of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marie Watkins (and her husband Delbert Watkins) of Salt Lake, Will Watkins of Salt Lake, Oisin Lewis of San Francisco, Ruth Ann Smith of Washington, D.C. and Angela Cegnar of Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by her sister Lucile Wilkie and her husband Coley Smith in 1986. At Beth's request there will be no service. However, there will be a family celebration of remembrance, joy and love at Blue Lake, above Cascade in August 2007. There will also be a gathering of appreciation during the summer of 2007 in Caldwell to celebrate the lives of Beth and Coley Smith and other parents of their generation.