Longtime Petaluma Evelyn Smith dies at the age of 91

Smith worked for Cooper Rentals as a bookkeeper for 35 years, retiring at the age of 85.|

Memorial services were held on March 25 for Petaluma resident Evelyn M. “Henri” Smith, who died on Thursday, March 19 at the age of 91.

Smith was born in Albion, Neb. to Ira and Lyn Ellenwood. The family later moved to Central City, Neb. After graduating from high school, she made her way west on a troop train to join her sister-in-law in San Francisco to start a new life adventure. She wasn’t there long before she met Army Sgt. Nelson Smith at a Christmas party. They were married two months later on Feb. 29, 1944.

After his discharge from the service, the couple made their home in Petaluma where Nelson worked for the State of California before being appointed Postmaster in 1951.

Smith joined the work force in 1956 as a teller for the First National Bank and eventually went on to become a bookkeeper for several real estate agencies. She retired from Cooper Rentals after 35 years at the age of 85.

In addition to raising a family and working full time, Smith was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Ladies Auxiliary. She served as president of Petaluma Auxiliary 1929 several times and was 16th District president in 2000/2001. She represented the Auxiliary and District at State functions and annual Memorial Day services.

She was a member of the Petaluma United Methodist Church .

She is survived by her children, Nelson F. Smith Jr. of Montgomery, Ala., and daughter Lynda Smith of Petaluma; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Petaluma Animal Shelter.

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