Obituary of Lois Smick

Lois Smick was gathered to Her people on July 7th at 12:00 midnight. She departed this world at Trios Medical Center in Kennewick, Wa. with her family members surrounding Her bed side. The cause of death was due to complications of pneumonia. Lois had been suffering many years from a serious back condition which had taken a toll on Her health and limited Her daily activities. Lois was proceeded in death by Her parents Francis and Dorothy Havlina, Her sister Audrey Jones and brother in law Roger Jones. Her surviving family members include Her husband Neal Smick and daughters Angela Smick of Kennewick and son Brandon Hienen and wife Tiffany, Jennifer Smick of Oakland, Ca. children Amanda Garza and husband Rigo, Jacob Hines, Elizabeth Hines, Leah Madsen, and Mark Madsen and youngest daughter Laura Cerna and husband Mike of Zillah, Wa. and daughter Jordan. Also 5 precious grandchildren Reggo, Jaden, Madison, Lilly and Jackson. Lois also has two nieces Julie Jones and Lisa Murphy. Lois was the second daughter born to Francis and Dorthy Havlina. She was delivered at Lady Of Lourdes in Pasco, Wa. on April 10, 1945. She was brought up on the family farm close to Connell, Wa. Graduated from Connell High School in 1963. On January 3rd 1965 Lois married Her favorite high school sweetheart Neal Smick at the Connell Methodist Church. They made their first home in Spokane, Wa. then returned to Connell in 1972 to help Lois’s dad farm. Lois was a mother who took meticulous care of Her children. Their appearance shined from all the attention She lavished on them. In the same manner our home was kept polished and spotless. More than one visitor commented on how every appliance shined and a repairman who visited our home once replied, “This place is cleaner than a hospital.” A real complement to Her attention to the details. Lois had a real talent for interior decorating. Every room in the house was decked out with flowers and pictures and all the little touches that make a home beautiful. Lois was a talented painter. She was especially fond of the European folk art of toll painting. She loved to paint bowls, coat racks, wood carved ducks, geese and other items. She was fond of music. There was always a CD playing music that ranged everywhere from Christian music to the Doobie Brothers. She also had a very playful side. More than once putting the pedal to the metal in Her twin turbo RX7. Usually after meeting up for dinner in the Tri-Cities She would graciously insist that She would follow Her husband home and usually somewhere north of Mesa he could expect to see a white missile blow the doors off his helpless El Camino. There are more stories like this but cannot be printed for fear of a future prosecution. The family will never forget the day Mt. St. Helens blew up. Neal wanted to take the cowards way out and stay home because it was snowing ash outside, but Lois insisted we go to Ritzville into the heart of the storm because Her Aunte Waynetta had worked on Her yard for 2 months for this family get together, so we set off into the blizzard. Her girls loved cats so much that the farm soon became a rescue haven for every stray cat in the country, all 40 of them. It was apparent that we would soon become “The Cat Capital of the Northwest”. Because of Mom’s strict rule of no cats in the house the girls found a unique way to smuggle them in right under Her nose. Laura would load the kitties into the basket outside. Her partner in crime Jennifer would pull the kittens up to the second story with an attached rope. Things went just fine until the day the kitties floated past the window Lois happened to be looking out. But that all changed years later when Neal found a feral kitten in the yard the size of a hot dog, eyes closed 5 weeks old. Hoping for the best he took it in and Lois gasp, “OH IT’S A KITTY”. Needless to say, kitty Sarah and her sister Coco have enjoyed our home for 7 years now. A sign of Lois’s good heart. Lois’s family would like to thank Trios Hospital, Dr. Haddadin and his staff for the care given to Lois and the extreme respect and kindness you showed to us in our very dark hour. The care you gave was top notch. There are no words to express the depth of our sorrow for our loss, but knowing You are with our Creator God Almighty gives us comfort. We Love You and can’t wait to see You There. Your Family All gifts and donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at www.stevensfc.com.