Norma Alice Smethers

Norma Alice (Ping) Smethers was born March 22, 1922 in Rock Island, WA to an early Washington State pioneer family, J. H. "Jink" & Lela (Sperline) Ping. She and her younger siblings, brother, Robert and sister, Beverly (Morrison), helped out their parents on their small farm & orchard. Growing up during the Great Depression, life was hard for them, but they made do with what little they had, and money earned working in the Apple packing sheds. She told of having to use an outhouse, as they had no indoor plumbing. A favorite story of hers was that she, as the oldest kid, had to get up early in the mornings to light a fire in the woodstove. She said as the house warmed, her pet goldfish, after being half frozen, would start swimming again! Norma's whole nature was doing for others, and she did so consistently and unselfishly throughout her life. She brightened the lives of all who knew her. She graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1940, and that year was named Princess Rock Island for the Apple Blossom festival. After high school, Norma moved to California to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Jobs in military related fields were plentiful there, and she soon found a job at Northrop Aircraft. It was while there, that she met the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Smethers. They married in 1942 and settled in the Los Angeles area, where Bob joined the Army. First born son, James Randall, was born while there. After Bob was released from the military, the family moved to Wenatchee, WA where son Greg and daughter Cindy were born. Bob was a loan officer for a bank, and job opportunities took the family from Wenatchee to Ephrata, Walla Walla & then to Othello, where Bob owned and managed his own company, a small loan office. Norma was not only a great cook & homemaker, but also a seamstress extraordinaire. She spent many many hours at her sewing machine, where she not only mended & sewed clothes for her own family, but also for half of the kid's friends too. Bob was very active in the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, as well as a big booster of all the local sports teams. Daughter Lori was born in Othello & the family was complete. In 1967, they moved back to Wenatchee. Here Norma worked in the Fabric department at JC Penney for 10 years. Bob earned his Real Estate license, and was very successful working for several Wenatchee offices. Norma was preceded in death by her husband Bob; brother, Robert and sister, Beverly. She is survived by her children, Ran, Greg & Lori of Wenatchee, and Cindy of Othello; 12 grandchildren & six great-grandchildren. Those of us fortunate enough to have known Norma will never forget her beauty, her sweet personality, her unbelievably selfless nature, her love of all things "Pink" and oh, THAT SM We thought of you with love today but that is nothing new We thought about you yesterday and days before that too We think of you in silence We often speak your name All we have are memories and your picture in a frame Your memory is our keepsake with which we'll never part God has you in His keeping We have you in our hearts A Memorial gathering for Norma will be held later in the spring (April or May). Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Norma Alice Smethers

March 22, 1922 - December 22, 2013