Loretta Passic

Loretta PASSIC Ella Loretta Smith was born March 3, 1916 at the family farm in Cora, Idaho (Palouse Country). Farm life provided many life experiences for the family including riding their pony bareback with younger sister, Tess to the not so local grade school. The depression forced the small country school to consolidate classes and siblings, Alva, Loretta and Tess graduated high school together in 1934. Loretta played basketball and was honorable mention at guard in her junior year. While attending University of Idaho, Loretta met Alex Passic at a "fireside" social gathering. They eloped to Spokane on June 6, 1940 and were married in the Catholic parsonage and then Loretta and Tess exchanged wedding and bride's maid dresses and Tess and Sherm Cook were married in the Methodist parsonage. Witnessing this was younger brother, Paul Smith. Michael was born October 5, 1941 and Alex completed his Masters in Physics within one year after getting his BS in June 1942. They moved back to Michigan were they lived until 1949. With new son, Theodore (October 30, 1947) they moved back to Idaho where they lived until Alex found a job with Boeing in Seattle. They moved into the house where they would live for the next 52 years. Loretta was very involved in raising her family and active in Highland Park Methodist Church. She and Alex had a knee slapping time with "Rarin' Squares" dancing for several years. Although her home was in Seattle, her heart was never far from the farm in Idaho. Every summer and holidays the family made the 300 mile trek to Idaho. Joined with her siblings' families there was always plenty of fun and chores for adults and children. One Thanksgiving the family rented the Grange Hall in Garfield, WA and most of the 95 at that very long table were Smiths and their family. Summertime meant canning fruit and vegies for winter consumption and big meals for the workers. Loretta life on the farm was a good primer for cooking. Boy, could she cook!! Loretta loved any kind of gathering of friends and family AND, she didn't care how far she had to TRAVEL to get there. While responsible for navigating on these trips, she usually was checking her eyelids for holes (sleeping) not long after the journey began. One of her favorites was the Coast Guard Academy class of 2001 graduation, New London, CT (grandson, Andy's commissioning). Fun at home usually meant a rousing game of contract bridge with best friend, Mary Potter, sister-in-law, Frances Smith, Alex, sister-in-law, Irene and/or sister, Tess. Lots of laughing on these evenings. The Methodist Woman's Society meant church potlucks, wedding planning, knitting and outings with the youth group. Loretta passed in her sleep just as she wanted, in her home with her family there on August 28, 2007. She is survived by her son, Michael (Britta and Lars), Ted and Marcie (Andy and Emily), sister, Tess Cook (Seattle) and brother, Paul Smith (Spokane). Alex passed away on April 2, 2006. Of those that Loretta touched, none will forget her. Remember Loretta at Highland Park Methodist Church, 9th and Henderson (Highland Park), 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 8, 2007. If you choose to please remember Loretta at Highline Hospice.