Anne Smith

Anne Somple Turney Smith was born on December 29, 1915 in Bovard, Pennsylvania and passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2009 in Johnson City, Tennessee at the age of 93. She was the daughter of the late Stephen and Catherine Duffalo Somple. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred Turney who died in 1948 after only ten years of marriage. As a single mother in the 1950s, Mrs. Smith was a resourceful woman who moved her three young daughters across the country from Pennsylvania to California where she would live most of her life. She worked full-time to support her family and was self-sufficient at a time when most women didnt work outside the home. She trusted the Lord through all her hardship and was an excellent role model for her girls. She retired as an office manager for Superior Utility Products, Inc. devoting her time to her children, sons-in-law and grandchildren. Mrs. Smith loved to cook, spend time with her family and play golf. She was active in her church and faithfully read the Bible. She was grounded in her faith and always had a trust that God would provide for her family. She was the matriarch of a family that puts God first and family a close second. Mrs. Smith led a blessed life with a family that loved her and was thankful for her strength of character and determination to succeed through adversity. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by three sisters; two brothers; one grandson, Mark Coulter; and one son-in-law, Bruce Williams. Mrs. Smith moved to Tennessee in 2004 and she was a member of the Central Baptist Church. Survivors include: three daughters, Elaine Williams of Johnson City, Charlotte Coulter and her husband Dale of San Jose, California and Fredonna Murray and her husband Dr. Ron Murray of Johnson City; three brothers, Stephen Somple and his wife Marcella of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Michael Somple and wife Adeline of Zanesville, Ohio and Roger Somple and wife Annette of Norwood, New Jersey; two sisters, Helen Ribovich of McKeeport, Pennsylvania and Barbara Trettel of Plymouth, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Shelley Johnson, R. Jeffrey Williams, Debby Blocker, Craig Williams, Lisa Whitfield, Brian Murray and Jennifer Coulter; their seven spouses and eighteen great grandchildren. The service of entombment for Mrs. Smith will be conducted at 11AM Thursday, July 30, 2009 in the Washington County Memory Gardens mausoleum chapel. Dr. Ron Murray will officiate. Active pallbearers will be Dale Coulter, Jeffrey Williams, Chad Whitfield, Craig Williams, Brian Murray, Colin Whitfield, Garrett Whitfield. Honorary pallbearer George Shipley. The family will receive friends at Morris-Baker from 9:30 to 10:30 AM prior to the service. A celebration of life service will be conducted at 7 PM Thursday, July 30, 2009 in the Central Baptist Church. Dr. Ron Murray will officiate. Tony Martin and the Joy Choir will provide music. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM at the church prior to the service.