IRIS WINNIFRED SMITH 09/25/1926 - 04/02/2026

Iris Winnifred Smith lived 99 full and beautiful years, most of them spent in the rural south Puget Sound communities she called home. She passed away, surrounded by family, at her Centralia home on April 2, 2026. Born in Tacoma WA, she lived her long life in the rural south Puget sound area - Violet Prairie, Bucoda, Skookumchuck, Tenino, and Centralia. She attended high school in Tenino and Centralia, graduating from Centralia High School.

As a young woman, she worked at her mother's plant nursery in Bucoda, and she carried a love of gardening and beautiful landscaping into her entire adult life. She made a career in the Tenino School District School Lunch Program and was program head at her retirement. Tenino was well known for the quality of the lunch program under her direction, and she was famous for her cinnamon rolls.

In addition to her landscape artistry, she was a gifted artist of oil painting, tole painting, and related crafts. Her paintings are displayed in her family's' homes and by residents at Sharon Care Assisted Living, where she lived.

Iris had a memorable laugh and loved to share it with everyone. She enjoyed games of pinochle with friends, and enjoyed camping at Mt St Helens, rockhounding, and spending time with kids and grandkids at the family ocean beach cabin near Grayland, WA.

Iris spent 69 years with her husband, Jim Smith, who passed away in 2018. Iris was also predeceased by her son Duane Smith, her son Don Spears, and her siblings.

She is survived by 3 children: Linda Freeman (John), Michael Smith (Robin), and Sandra Smith (Winston), 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary, Centralia WA is handling the arrangements. There will be a graveside service and inurnment at 10:30 am, Friday, May 8, 2026, at Forest Grove Cemetery, 18011 Northcraft Rd SE, Tenino WA.