SHORELINE – Gwen Vernice Smith, 73, passed away on May 10, 2004, at an adult family home in Shoreline.

She was born Aug. 19, 1930, in San Francisco to Parker and Olive Nelson. The family soon moved to Ocean Park, and her brother Charlie was born. She grew up on the Long Beach Peninsula and graduated from Ilwaco High School in 1949.

While visiting friends in Arcata, Calif., she met her husband, Robert “Sam” McGee and had her three daughters. After divorce she and the girls moved back “home” to the Peninsula.

In 1973 she married Pete Smith. They lived in Long Beach and then moved to Clatskanie, Ore. She loved to socialize with her neighbors and family. Her stories of “Jimmy the raccoon” have become a family tradition, which she would weave over a campfire along with legends of her family history. She also loved gardening and had a definite green thumb. At one time in her life she had over 100 fuchsia plants on her porch in Clatskanie. She would create a grandmotherly haven in whatever house she lived. Six years ago, the couple moved to Toledo to make their retirement home, however, Mr. Smith passed away soon after they moved.

Mrs. Smith has been in the Seattle area at a caring adult family home since January after hospitalization and has been close to her two older daughters and their children. She spent most of her life on the Long Beach Peninsula and, according to her wishes, will be buried here as well.

She is survived by three daughters: Candy Mead of Woodinville, Kerry Ramsey of Shoreline, and Tori Billings of The Woodlands, Texas; one brother Charlie Nelson of Hermiston, Ore.; seven grandchildren: Aaron and Hannah Mead, Rich and Liberty Ramsey, and Tudor, Kieran and Shannon Billings. She has had many close friends over the years and will be deeply missed.

Services will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at Penttila’s Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. Remembrances may be made to your local hospice.