Rita Louise Green Smith, 86, of Kailua, Oah'u, passed away in her ocean-side home on November 12, 2012. Rita was born on August 7, 1926 in Delta, Colorado.
During her preschool years she lived in Delta, Colorado and then during the depression the family moved to Austin, Colorado. While her father worked for the College Farm and raised fruit, the family kept a large garden and made dairy products on their small farm. She later attended Delta High School where she excelled in the sciences. During World War II she attended Colorado State College, enthusiastically participated in sorority activities and worked summers at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. She graduated from Colorado State College with a B.S. in life sciences with a certification to teach.
She married Max Smith on July 11,1948. Rita assisted Max as a receptionist, bookkeeper and surgical assistant at an animal hospital in Safford, Arizona for 14 years. Then in 1965 the family surprised relatives and moved to Hawaii where Max worked as a veterinarian for the State of Hawaii. Rita taught science at King Intermediate in Kaneohe sharing her biology, earth and space science knowledge with thousands of students over 24 years.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions including Ward and Stake Relief Society President. She enjoyed supporting community activities at Gunstock Ranch, the family ranch in Laie. Some of those activities included the annual Easter Egg Hunt and many rodeo events.
Rita was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She encouraged all of her children to succeed and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her pets, especially her cats George, Keoki and Cat. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and Mexican food.
The family thanks the sensitive and loving caregivers who, during her declining years, allowed Rita to remain in her home watching the sunrise over the Mokulua Islands and hearing Kailua Bay's soothing surf even until the day of her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Max Bigler Smith, parents Ferris Milton Green and Effie Elnora Cofer, and her sister Dale Green Lawson. Rita is survived by her six children, Barry (Susie) Smith, Kris Anne (Paul) Gustavson, Kari (George) Archibald, Troy (Carrey) Smith, Jon (Anne) Smith and Greg (Kyndra) Smith. She is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be on Saturday November 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Kailua 2nd Ward LDS Chapel. Burial will be later at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery.
During her preschool years she lived in Delta, Colorado and then during the depression the family moved to Austin, Colorado. While her father worked for the College Farm and raised fruit, the family kept a large garden and made dairy products on their small farm. She later attended Delta High School where she excelled in the sciences. During World War II she attended Colorado State College, enthusiastically participated in sorority activities and worked summers at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. She graduated from Colorado State College with a B.S. in life sciences with a certification to teach.
She married Max Smith on July 11,1948. Rita assisted Max as a receptionist, bookkeeper and surgical assistant at an animal hospital in Safford, Arizona for 14 years. Then in 1965 the family surprised relatives and moved to Hawaii where Max worked as a veterinarian for the State of Hawaii. Rita taught science at King Intermediate in Kaneohe sharing her biology, earth and space science knowledge with thousands of students over 24 years.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions including Ward and Stake Relief Society President. She enjoyed supporting community activities at Gunstock Ranch, the family ranch in Laie. Some of those activities included the annual Easter Egg Hunt and many rodeo events.
Rita was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She encouraged all of her children to succeed and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her pets, especially her cats George, Keoki and Cat. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and Mexican food.
The family thanks the sensitive and loving caregivers who, during her declining years, allowed Rita to remain in her home watching the sunrise over the Mokulua Islands and hearing Kailua Bay's soothing surf even until the day of her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Max Bigler Smith, parents Ferris Milton Green and Effie Elnora Cofer, and her sister Dale Green Lawson. Rita is survived by her six children, Barry (Susie) Smith, Kris Anne (Paul) Gustavson, Kari (George) Archibald, Troy (Carrey) Smith, Jon (Anne) Smith and Greg (Kyndra) Smith. She is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be on Saturday November 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Kailua 2nd Ward LDS Chapel. Burial will be later at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery.
Rita Louise Green Smith, 86, of Kailua, Oah'u, passed away in her ocean-side home on November 12, 2012. Rita was born on August 7, 1926 in Delta, Colorado.
During her preschool years she lived in Delta, Colorado and then during the depression the family moved to Austin, Colorado. While her father worked for the College Farm and raised fruit, the family kept a large garden and made dairy products on their small farm. She later attended Delta High School where she excelled in the sciences. During World War II she attended Colorado State College, enthusiastically participated in sorority activities and worked summers at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. She graduated from Colorado State College with a B.S. in life sciences with a certification to teach.
She married Max Smith on July 11,1948. Rita assisted Max as a receptionist, bookkeeper and surgical assistant at an animal hospital in Safford, Arizona for 14 years. Then in 1965 the family surprised relatives and moved to Hawaii where Max worked as a veterinarian for the State of Hawaii. Rita taught science at King Intermediate in Kaneohe sharing her biology, earth and space science knowledge with thousands of students over 24 years.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions including Ward and Stake Relief Society President. She enjoyed supporting community activities at Gunstock Ranch, the family ranch in Laie. Some of those activities included the annual Easter Egg Hunt and many rodeo events.
Rita was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She encouraged all of her children to succeed and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her pets, especially her cats George, Keoki and Cat. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and Mexican food.
The family thanks the sensitive and loving caregivers who, during her declining years, allowed Rita to remain in her home watching the sunrise over the Mokulua Islands and hearing Kailua Bay's soothing surf even until the day of her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Max Bigler Smith, parents Ferris Milton Green and Effie Elnora Cofer, and her sister Dale Green Lawson. Rita is survived by her six children, Barry (Susie) Smith, Kris Anne (Paul) Gustavson, Kari (George) Archibald, Troy (Carrey) Smith, Jon (Anne) Smith and Greg (Kyndra) Smith. She is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be on Saturday November 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Kailua 2nd Ward LDS Chapel. Burial will be later at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery.
During her preschool years she lived in Delta, Colorado and then during the depression the family moved to Austin, Colorado. While her father worked for the College Farm and raised fruit, the family kept a large garden and made dairy products on their small farm. She later attended Delta High School where she excelled in the sciences. During World War II she attended Colorado State College, enthusiastically participated in sorority activities and worked summers at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and at Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. She graduated from Colorado State College with a B.S. in life sciences with a certification to teach.
She married Max Smith on July 11,1948. Rita assisted Max as a receptionist, bookkeeper and surgical assistant at an animal hospital in Safford, Arizona for 14 years. Then in 1965 the family surprised relatives and moved to Hawaii where Max worked as a veterinarian for the State of Hawaii. Rita taught science at King Intermediate in Kaneohe sharing her biology, earth and space science knowledge with thousands of students over 24 years.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various positions including Ward and Stake Relief Society President. She enjoyed supporting community activities at Gunstock Ranch, the family ranch in Laie. Some of those activities included the annual Easter Egg Hunt and many rodeo events.
Rita was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She encouraged all of her children to succeed and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her pets, especially her cats George, Keoki and Cat. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and Mexican food.
The family thanks the sensitive and loving caregivers who, during her declining years, allowed Rita to remain in her home watching the sunrise over the Mokulua Islands and hearing Kailua Bay's soothing surf even until the day of her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Max Bigler Smith, parents Ferris Milton Green and Effie Elnora Cofer, and her sister Dale Green Lawson. Rita is survived by her six children, Barry (Susie) Smith, Kris Anne (Paul) Gustavson, Kari (George) Archibald, Troy (Carrey) Smith, Jon (Anne) Smith and Greg (Kyndra) Smith. She is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be on Saturday November 17, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Kailua 2nd Ward LDS Chapel. Burial will be later at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery.
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