Lee Smith

Lee Smith, age 84, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Rogue Valley Medical Center.

Lee was born September 17, 1926 in Washington, Pennsylvania to Carl & Ruth Smith. In 1948 she moved with her mother and brother from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to California. Lee was an upholstery seamstress and worked for 30 years at Santa Fe Upholstery in Long Beach, California. In 1975 she opened her own needlepoint shop. In 1986 Lee found her way from San Diego to Grants Pass, Oregon as a needlepoint finisher and had her pillows and needlepoint finishing published in numerous books. In 1997 Lee married Walt Smith and enjoyed a full life living along the Rogue River.

Lee was a member of the Pacemaker Choir for 16 years; Merlin Community Baptist Church; and the Grants Pass Community Concert series.

Her hobbies included needlepoint, gardening, and sewing.

In addition to her husband, Walt Smith of Grants Pass, Oregon; Lee is survived by a daughter, Jeri Lee Carter; two grandsons, Jeff Carter and Andy Carter; two great-grandchildren, Ellie Carter and Dane Carter all of Long Beach, California; and four stepchildren, Charles Smith of Grants Pass, Oregon, Karen Carnes of Burbank, California, Steven Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Barry Smith of Media, Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will be at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Merlin Community Baptist Church with Pastor Ev Denniston officiating. Private interment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.