Lorilee Smith

Lorilee Smith passed away peacefully in her Port Orchard, WA home surrounded by family on May 13, 2003 at age 74 following a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.She was born to Robert and Louise Peet of Lake Lotawana, MO on May 11th, 1929, the youngest of the three Peet sisters. She graduated high school from Barstow School in Kansas City, MO and she attended two years in Mills College, Oakland, CA, before marrying the love of her life, Ellison Smith, her beloved husband of 55 years.Following the birth of her three children, David, Dan, and Sharon, she created a business, Visual Aids Material Company, to help in teaching communication skills to deaf children. Not only did this business help her with her own deaf son Dan, she helped many parents and educators to do the same with their deaf children. After her children were grown, she worked in the printing industry as a graphic artist and calligrapher for many years. In 1980 she started Lorilee Art Services, a graphic services business still going in San Diego, CA owned by her partner, Shelli Hutchison.Lorilee was an artist of many interests, most prominently wood carving. Her home in Port Orchard is docorated with several fine examples of her work. Her family and friends have also been lucky recipients of many of her art projects, from hand-carved wooden baby cradles, to oil paintings to hand-crocheted blankets.In addition to being an accomplished artist, Lorilee was also an avid sportswoman, taking part in many sports, her favorite being golf. She has been a member of McCormick Woods Ladies Golf Club for 9 years, having served as captain of the Ladies Golf Club and as captain of the golf team.Lorilee touched so many lives through her art, her wonderful sense of humor and her joy for life, she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Louise Peet, and her sister Midge Robison of Lake Lotawana, MO. She is survived by her husband Ellison Smith of Port Orchard, WA, daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Jim Thomson of Seattle, son Dan Smith of Port Orchard, son and daughter-in-law David and Mary Ann Smith of Ardmore, TN, sister and brother-in-law, Beatrice and Wink Cantrell of Lake Lotawana, MO, brother-in-law Bill Robison of Lake Lotawana, MO, and her business partner Shelli Hutchison of San Diego, CA. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, who all lovingly view her as the coolest grandmother anyone ever had.An open house to celebrate Lorilees's life will be held at the family home Saturday May 17 from 2 - 4 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 for lung cancer research.