Obituary of Elizabeth Louise Smith

Elizabeth "BETTE" Louise Smith Services will be held in Aptos on Saturday for Bette Smith who passed away to be with the Lord at her Capitola home on August 7, 2010. Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, she was 80 years old. Bette had fond memories of growing up in St. Joseph, Michigan where her father had built greenhouses and a flower shop which was their family business. Bette's family, cousins and extended family had many picnics at the beach and often swam in Lake Michigan. They also created many memories together for holidays and gatherings. Outdoor ice skating with friends in the winter was another favorite pastime. She enjoyed spending summers in Dubuque Iowa, with her grandparents watching fireflys in the warm evenings and listening to the katydids. Bette enjoyed school and played flute in both the Jr. High and High School Bands and Orchestra. She also learned to play the piano and sang in church choirs. Bette enjoyed sports playing baseball, tennis, basketball, snow-skiing and powder puff football. She loved bicycling as a mode of transportation, recalling that her first bike had big balloon tires. In 1941 she took a trip with her family to Whittier, California to attend a florist convention at the Biltmore Hotel, where she received autographs of several movie stars. She graduated in 1951 from the University of Michigan receiving a BA in History with a minor in Math. She then moved to California attending graduate school at U.C.L.A. She worked for the Union Oil Company in LA and a year later, worked for Western Costume Company in Hollywood in the Research Department, a job she loved and found fascinating. In 1956, she met her husband to be, Grant Smith at the Del Mar Club in Santa Monica. After Bette returned from a trip to Alaska with her mother, Grant asked Bette to marry him. They were married later that year in Westwood and enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Grant preceded Bette in death on May 8th 2010. Bette was a member of American Association of University Women, and served as the vice president of W.S.C.S. (now United Methodist Women) where she was the editor of the monthly newspaper, and organized the Goodwill fashion show. She sang in the church choir at First United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz, and was a 22 year member of the Bell Choir. She served on the Board of Trustees and the Worship Committee for her church. Bette was involved in Bible Study Fellowship for many years. She and her husband Grant, also attended Twin Lakes Church. Bette was active as well with her daughters in Girl Scouts as a Brownie troop leader, and served as the president of the school PTA. She was very accomplished at needlepoint, making and creating needlepoint pictures, pillows and miniature needlepoint rugs in scale from 1'' to 1'. She also created many other beautiful miniature collectable items and showrooms. Bette was a 20 year member of the Santa Cruz Miniature Guild, and Stitchers By-The-Sea. She enjoyed creating memorable gifts and she often handmade Christmas ornaments and stockings for her children and grandchildren. Spending time with her grandchildren was a favorite pastime of hers. She enjoyed entertaining and was always having family or friends over to the house for a party. While doing a grandparent report, her grandson was thrilled to find out that Bette's Great-Grandpa was a Sheriff who hunted down diamond thieves. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Robinson of Scotts Valley, her daughter and son-in- law, Karen and Drew hinds of Brentwood, and her son and daughter in-law, David and Barbara Smith of Santa Cruz. She also leaves her 10 grandchildren, David, Charles, Christina, and Matthew Robinson; Zachary, Austin, and Sierra Hinds; and Kay, Daniel, and Nicholas "Nico" Smith. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 28th at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, in Aptos beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Friends may also pay their respects on Friday, August 27th, at the Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St. in Santa Cruz, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Remembrances may be made to The American Heart Association, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, or Heifer International.