Shirley Marina Smith
Shirley Marina Smith passed away peacefully at her home on August 2, 2012 after courageously battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years. She was born on December 3, 1934 to Myron and Margarete Weaver in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Shirley received her Registered Nurses degree at Allentown School of Nursing, and shortly thereafter decided to put her nursing degree to good work while entertaining her need for adventure by moving to Hawaii in 1956. It was there she met Joe Smith, and after several proposal attempts the two were united in marriage at the Naval Base Chapel in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 30, 1957.Capt. and Mrs. Smith made their home in many ‘ports’ throughout their 54 years of marriage, Shirley always managing to land prestigious nursing positions, and many friends along the way; their last port-of-call being Mercer Island, Washington where they settled their family in 1981.In addition to her demanding career and honors from the U.S. Coast Guard for her selfless duties as a Captains wife, Shirley’s greatest achievements were her four beloved sons; whom she raised, often times single-handedly, with exuberance, patience, faith, humor, and a lot of groceries. She was their angel on earth, and now in heaven. Never one to sit still, Shirley made sure to find time for her passions. An avid metal detector, she and her sister competed each year to see who could collect the most treasure. She was an active volunteer at Virginia Mason Hospital until 2007, and found pleasure in being able to continue her love for nursing and caring for others. She remained close friends with a tight-knit group of nurses/ “BCC Ladies” who shared this common interest.She took joy in passing along her knowledge of gardening and baking with her grandchildren, journaling, collecting various knick-knacks, writing poetry, and on Easter Sunday’s spending hours preparing challenging egg hunts for her family. Shirley is survived by her husband USCG Captain Joseph F. Smith at their family home, her four sons and daughter’s-in-law: Michael and Christy of Lynnwood, Washington; Kevin and Natalie of Snoqualmie, Washington; Patrick and Kimberly of Ottawa, Ontario; and Timothy and Courtney of Sammamish, Washington, her sister Barbara (Eugene) Stark, nieces Patrice Stocker and Michelle Jamann of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; and her ten cherished grandchildren: Erin, Sarah, Adam, Matthew, Caleb, Camryn, Charlie, Casey, Ike, and Cooper.Services for Shirley Smith will be held at St. Monica’s Parish on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, or a cancer charity of your choice in her memory.
