Anchorage Daily News May 31, 2012

Loving Mother, Grandmother and friend, Ina M. Pentecost Hopkins Smith passed away Friday, May 25th at the age of 98 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Many of her loving family were with her.

She was born in Brandsville, Missouri, December 15, 1913. Ina was the twelveth child of James Eli Shields Pentecost and Laura Francis Breedlove Pentecost. She married Chester (Chet) Loyd Hopkins January 25, 1930 in Melbourne, Arkansas where they had three children. They were having a very difficult time during the depression and decided to move to Alaska in 1939. When Chet arrived in Alaska he started working for the Alaska Railroad. He and Ina built a house on Nugget Avenue in Spenard, Alaska where they had three more children. In 1943, Ina married Roy H. D. Smith who worked as a foreman for the Alaska Railroad. He and Ina built a three bedroom home, a triplex, a duplex and a small, one bedroom house. The rental business helped supplement his income as they proceeded to have six more children and enabled Ina to stay home and care for their children. She instilled a strong love of family, faith and helping others who were less fortunate in all her children. In 1963, Roy and Ina, with the five youngest children, moved to Tacoma, Washington to live and be able to help take care for his 85 year old mother. Ina lived 49 years in Tacoma. Ina was always involved in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren's lives. She was the conduit for all information regarding her family and many friends throughout her life. Ina was so very proud of her children. She would frequently state, "I have twelve children, and they're all natural!" They were all single births too. She had 33 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and 29 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands Chester Hopkins, Roy R. D. Smith, Gary Kassuth and Harold Hopkins; son Roy Lee Hopkins; daughter Doris Richardson; granddaughter Lerrina Smith; great-granddaughter Shelcy Diebert and great-grandson Ayden Beall.

Ina is survived by Ida Elizabeth (Kenneth) Riley of Grants Pass, Oregon; Mary Joanne (William) McKenney of Mt. Ida, Arkansas; David (Teresa) Hopkins of Kalama, Washington; Juanita (Skip) Beall III of Surprise, Arizona; Ina Jean Pearson of Coco, Florida; Darrell Richardson son-in-law of Tacoma, Washington; Carolyn (Richard) Turner of Homer, Alaska; Bonnie (Earl) Karr of Fernley, Nevada; Dorothy (Joseph) Fry of Des Moines, Washington; Perry R.D. Smith of Tacoma, Washington; former daughter-in-law Joan Smith and Julia (Steve) Pilgrim of Kent, Washington. Funeral services were June 2, 2012 at Weeks Dryer Mortuary, Tacoma, Washington. A gathering of family and friends was held after the service at Gove Masonic Lodge. Interment was in Anchorage AK. Donations strongly suggested to your favorite charity or Church. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com