Obituary: Zoa ‘Madge’ Smith

Published 12:15 am Friday, August 18, 2023

Prineville

Jan. 31, 1923 — July 3, 2023

Zoa “Madge” Smith died July 3, 2023 in Prineville. She was 100 years old.

Madge was born Jan. 31, 1923, in Marion County, to William and Maude (Watters) Harlan. She was one of four children, and the only girl.

She lived all of her life in Oregon. She graduated from Nehalem High School.

On May 25, 1940, she married LeWayne “Lee” Kenneth Smith in Vancouver, Washington. In 1944, the couple moved to Roseburg, where their first child was born. In 1947, they moved back to Nehalem, where their other two children were born. While they lived in Nehalem, she worked at Douma’s Market in Wheeler.

In 1958, they moved to Seaside, where she worked at Wascher’s Grocery and Public Market. She spent the last several years in Seaside working as a reading specialist for the Seaside School District.

She retired in 1989 and moved to Prineville, where she spent her remaining years.

Madge was a lifetime member of the Spruce Rebekah Lodge. She was an avid gardener, a great cook and enjoyed Portland Trail Blazers basketball and NASCAR racing. She also enjoyed keeping a beautiful yard and vintage cars.

Madge was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers and a daughter, Cathie Adella (Smith) Hatch.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynda Lee (Smith) Benson; and her husband, Bob, of Prineville; her son, Ronald LeWayne Smith, and his wife, Lynn, of Seaside; six grandchildren, Steve Benson, of Prineville, Connie Benson, of Orange, California, Julianne (Hatch) Tyler, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Debra Hatch, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Michael Smith, of Newport, and Jason Smith, of Astoria; three great-grandchildren, Brady and Drew Tyler, of Cedar Falls, and Mckayla R. Benson, of Prineville; as well as four great-great-grandchildren, Tate LeWayne Smith and Coby Michael Smith, of Newport, and Lincoln Pearle Smith and Elison Rae Smith, of Astoria.

For the last five years of her life, Madge lived at the Carriage Place in Prineville, making many new friends and entertaining staff with her love of music and her singing. She enjoyed taking on anyone who would agree to challenge her to a free throw contest in basketball.

At her request, there will be no funeral services. Contributions in her name can be made to the Bristol Hospice, 563 S.W. 13th St., Suite 101, Bend, OR., 97702.

Arrangements were completed by Prineville Funeral Home.