Julie Ann Smith

Julie Ann (née Zubrod) Smith died unexpectedly Friday, October 10, 2025, at her home in Yakima, Washington. She was 77 years old.
Julie was a proud homemaker, married to husband Joe for 56 years, and raised sons Joey, John, and Jimmy. Julie and Joe crisscrossed North America over the past 22 years to visit grandchildren Braden, Evelyn, Houston, Dylan, Ashling, and Kendall. Julie was always looking forward to the next visit with a branch of her family tree.
If there wasn't laughter right away when you saw Julie, laughter would soon show up; she liked being in the middle of revelry. Whether it was hosting family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors, Julie wanted to laugh and wanted you to join her. Even though she wrestled with cancer twice and myasthenia gravis, she usually found a path to laughter.
While Joe worked in the grocery business, Julie had the acumen to pull together foodstuffs to help someone in need. Julie also held a number of jobs over the years. She worked at the Bon Marché, in travel, and in health care offices – she even distributed food samples before Costco made it cool!
After living most of their lives in the Puget Sound region – Renton, Olympia, and Covington – Julie and Joe found a little more peaceful life among the apple orchards of Yakima, where they could enjoy a nice lawn and some shade, and be close to niece Lisa and her husband Colin.
Julie Ann Zubrod was born June 23, 1948, in Seattle, Washington, to Gerald "Jerry" Zubrod and June (née Byers) Zubrod. She was the oldest of three children, with her brother Jeff and sister Jennifer. Her early life was spent around the hallowed streets of the University of Washington, where Jerry invested his G.I. Bill to fund his journalism degree. That degree guided the life path of the five "JZs", as Jerry built a long career connected to small newspapers, firmly planting roots with the Renton Record-Chronicle and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA). The Zubrods were members of Lakeridge Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran tradition is part of Julie's family tree to this day.
Julie met Joe Smith while they were seniors at Renton High School, finding each other in a graduating class of over 800 students. Julie and Joe graduated from Renton High School in 1966, and were married June 7, 1969, at Lakeridge Lutheran. Joey arrived the following spring in April 1970. John was born in August 1974, and Jimmy in December 1976. Julie often joined Joe in watching Seattle sports teams, notably the Mariners, Seahawks, and University of Washington football. Later in life, she probably eclipsed Joe in yelling at the team through the television, often offering advice about how certain players should cut their hair.
One household tradition for Julie and Joe was that if the Huskies, Seahawks, or Mariners won the night before, they would enjoy their morning coffee in a designated team victory mug. If you are searching for a way to remember Julie, get a favorite team mug – especially for the Mariners! -- take a sip after a victory, and know that Julie would have enjoyed raising that mug with you.
Julie is survived by her husband Joe of 56 years, sons Joey (Melanie Wallschlaeger), John (Ashleigh Sanders), and Jimmy. Grandchildren Kendall, Ashling, Dylan, Houston, Evelyn, and Braden; sister Jennifer and brother Jeff. There are also numerous nieces and nephews.
A Committal Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 11:15am at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. A reception will follow at the Hilton Garden Inn in Issaquah. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the local food bank or homeless shelter of your choice. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at shawandsons.com.