Genevieve Beckett Smith

Genevieve Beckett Smith

Genevieve Beckett Smith eagerly anticipated meeting her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This was achieved July 17, 2009 at age 97, two weeks prior to her 98th Birthday. She was born July 30, 1911, in Salem Oregon, the eldest of five born to Earl and Minnie Beckett. At the age of three, her parents homesteaded in Christmas Valley, Oregon. She recalled traveling in a covered wagon for the three weeks it took to make the trip. When she was five, the family returned to Salem where her mother taught school, her father drove trucks and the family welcomed two more girls and two boys.

She attended Portland Bible Institute (later Cascade College) in Portland, Oregon where she met Herman L. G. Smith, a handsome young ministerial student. They married in 1932 and she followed him in service to the Lord through the Church of the Nazarene in parishes in Washington, Oregon, California and Canada. She represented Western Canada on the Nazarene General Council supporting the missionary arm of the Church. The Smiths completed their ministry in 1975 and retired to Trinidad to be near family.

Genevieve was a full time homemaker, a seamstress, an accomplished pianist and a hostess who welcomed guests from around the world into their home. She followed up those visits with years of correspondence to scores of missionaries and other Christian workers. She enjoyed tea with her granddaughters using proper English cups and saucers. After her husband died, Genevieve was lovingly cared for by her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Garnette and Stewart "Skip" Gilgore, for six years. She has been a resident of Granada Rehabilitation Center for the past six months. Her family deeply appreciates the attentive and loving care given her by the hands-on nursing staff there.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Minnie Beckett, her husband of 70 years, Rev. Herman L.G. Smith, her brothers Wallace and Milton and sister Evelyn.

She is survived by her sister; Sybil Beckett Yoder of Newberg, Oregon; her four daughters and spouses; Gwendolyn and Peter Stone of Salem, Oregon, Virginia and Joseph George of Groveland. California. Esther and Scott Holmes of Trinidad and Garnette and Stewart Gilgore of McKinleyville, along with her grandchildren (and spouses), Robert (Carol) Edwards, LeAnn Edwards (Allen) Spreeman, Michelle Edwards, Lisa George (Eddie) Pavlu, Scott (Lisa) Holmes II, Jennifer Holmes (Brian) Cilker, David (Stephanie) L.G. Holmes. Meghan Gilgore (Shiloh) Smith and Michael (Cordelia) Gilgore. She is also survived by great grandchildren Jason, Jesse and Luke Spreeman; Sarah Amador; Erica, Anastasia, Isaac, Jonah, Noah, Susanna, Sophia and Blandina Holmes; Abigail, Mark, Margaret, Sarah and Andrew Cilker; and Jacqueline and Joshua Holmes, and one great-great-grandchild, Emma Amador.

The family thanks Dr. Chris Lee for years of kind care; Pastor Bob Dipert of Grace Nazarene Church, McKinleyville; the amazing staff and clients of Mad River Hospital Adult Day Health Care; her Tuesday morning Bible Study prayer partners and her many attentive friends. To name them would be to leave someone out and each one knows who she is. Final arrangements are with Chapel of the Ferns. Her funeral will be at Grace Nazarene Church, Thursday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Bob Dipert officiating and reception will follow. Graveside service will be Saturday. July 25 at 1 p.m., Zion Cemetery, Canby, Oregon where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.

Donations may be made, in Genevieve’s name, to the Rev. Herman L.G. Smith Scholarship for the Nazarene University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, c/o Pastor Bob Dipert, Grace Nazarene Church, 2333 McKinleyville Ave., McKinleyville. California 95519.

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