AUGUSTA – Edith L. Smiley, 90, of Augusta died peacefully Friday morning April 9, 2010 at her daughter’s home in Augusta with her children at her side.
Born Oct. 19, 1919, the daughter of Charles and Marie (Link) Luger in New Rochelle, NY, she was the fourth of seven children. Edith attended school in Farmington and worked for several years at Carroll Macomber’s Wood Mill where she met Donald R. Smiley Sr. They were married Nov. 5, 1938. Donald died June 12,1992.
Edith was a housewife for much of her life, working on the farm with her husband. She is well known throughout the state for growing and selling perennial flowers from her gardens at 156 Smiley Road from 1975 to 2005. Edith was very fond of the arts, having a talent for drawing, painting, woodworking, quilting, singing, and is remembered by her children and grandchildren for the old tunes she was known to whistle often.
Survivors include a daughter Jeanice Honas and her husband John of Augusta, two sons, Donald R. Smiley Jr. and his wife Pamela of Farmington, and Richard D. Smiley and his wife Joyce of Chesterville, seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Hoar of Farmington, and Marie Brown of East Wilton; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is predeceased by her husband Donald of 53 years, two great-granddaughters, Jossilyn and Zelina, and four brothers, Charles, Philip, John, and Robert.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the East Wilton Union Church with Rev. S. Park officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Farmington. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams-McFarlane Funeral & Cremation Services, 108 Court St. Farmington. Online condolences may be made to the family through the funeral home’s Web site www.adamsmcfarlane.com
Edith Smiley was my mentor when I first started gardening in Temple in the 1970’s. So many of the plants in my garden today came from her garden…I was truly blessed to know her..I treasured the walks we would take through her garden each spring..she with her shovel and wheel barrow…telling me everything i needed to know and then some about the plants i was choosing to purchase..
jo josephson, temple