Sofija C. Smith

SOFIJA C. SMITH 76, of Huntington, WV passed away peacefully surround by her loved ones on August 28, 2025 at Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. She was born on June 17, 1949, in the village of Gudurica, former Yugoslavia.
A daughter of the late Lazar and Katharine Cucak. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Darrell F. Smith. Surviving are her son Michael Smith and grandsons Joshua and Lucian Smith.
She left behind her best friend and hiking buddy Sylvia Thompson, long time friend Nancy Lawhon and dear friend Mare Kivistick from Estonia. She left behind many loving and devoted friends, including her dear co-worker and friend Sharon Vanoteghem and her beach buddy Gloria Pierce, and her sweet friend from her college days Sandy Sweetser. Her love for God and nature and continuous generosity will be her legacy.
She went to high school in Belgrade Serbia, and finished her training as a medical assistant in Huntington, WV. After working as a surgical tech at Cabell Huntington Hospital for five years she continued her education at Marshall, receiving her undergraduate degree in education and two master's degrees, one in sculpture and one in painting. She taught art in Cabell Co. for 25 years. She loved teaching, her students, and co-workers. Her teaching was a mission, and the success of her students gave her great pleasure. Sofija has lived in three different countries and has visited many others; she speaks four different languages fluently. She made her home in WV and spent 35 summers in Canada on Luke Huron. As a member of a photography club, she developed beautiful photographs of nature. She treasured the time spent with her photographer friend Vasja Pinzovski in Croatia. He was quite famous and taught her a lot of techniques with photography. Sofija's rock collection has come from all over the world. Gardening is her time to talk with God and thank him for all the beauty he has created and for allowing her to be part of it. Her love for gardening is an inheritance from her father, hiking in the mountains with her buddy Sylvia and making memories along the way were cherished moments in time. At the age of 14 she climbed Mt. Triglav, the highest mountain peak in the country. She sat on a glacier from which she could see three countries; Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. Her love continues for the mountains where her ashes will be scattered amount the wildflowers, where birds sing a chorus for her every day, Jason Thomas will say a prayer as her ashes are scattered in the mountains. She cherished her church family at Farmdale Church of Christ and the time she spent there.
There will be no services.
In lieu of flowers you may honor Sofija by sending donations to your local animal shelter. She loved all animals both domestic and wild. Her joy came from feeding critters on her deck and in her yard. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmans-mortuary.com.