Shirley Lea Smiley

Shirley Lea Smiley died one year ago, on May 20, 2011, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Eureka, Calif., from heart failure.

Shirley was born Feb. 25, 1927, in Quincy, where she stayed until 1964. She attended St. Mary's and Notre Dame High School, then made a home in the countryside after marrying the love of her life, Walter Daniel Smiley, after World War II. Together, they raised three daughters, Barbara Camacho (Fred) of Hot Springs, Ark., Theresa Smiley-Holian (Mark) of Arcata, Calif., and Tina Smiley (Michael Barrett) of Auke Bay, Alaska.

The family moved to Oxnard, Calif., in 1964, and Shirley relocated to Eureka in 2001.

Shirley was admired for her dry sense of humor and her down-to-earth practicality. She was a fabulous cook, a lifelong Democrat and a devoted fan of baseball, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals. She loved all animals, great and small, but had a particularly soft spot for pugs.

She is deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Per Shirley's wishes, her remains were cremated.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Louis "Eddie" and Ida Vest; her husband, Walter; her brother, Bernard Vest; and her sisters, Marie Jones and Cecilia Colbert.

She is survived by her brother, Thomas Vest of Des Moines, Iowa; her daughters; grandchildren Thomas Becham (Kim) of Oxnard, Calif., and Ida Mae Woods of Seattle; and great-grandchildren, Derek and Connor Woods of Trinidad, Calif.

SERVICES: Cremation rites were accorded.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.