Gladys Alice (Johnson) Smith

Gladys A. Smith

Gladys A. Smith, 94, of Hamilton passed away due to natural causes on October 9th, 2022, at Bee Hive Homes of Hamilton. Gladys was born January 21, 1928, in West Los Angeles, but spent her youth in San Bernardino, California. A violinist and honor student, she was co-valedictorian of the 1945 graduating class at San Bernardino High School.

Gladys attended the University of California at Los Angeles for two years before she married her high school sweetheart, John K. Smith, who spent the war years as a Navy radio technician in the Pacific Theater. While John attended classes at Humboldt State College, Gladys began her teaching career on a provisional credential. In 1964 she received her BE from Humboldt State College. She and her husband taught in California schools for half of their thirty-one years in education. Their remaining years in that profession were spent in Montana, three of them in Fort Benton, the rest in the Bitterroot Valley.

After her retirement, Gladys launched a career as a writer of historical fiction. Her novels, River of Our Return and Deliverance Valley won the Willa Cather Literary Award. Other novels, Higher Ground and In the Shadow of Rebellion were finalists for that award.

Gladys found joy in the outdoors. She spent hundreds of hours hiking the Bitterroot canyons and ridges with her beloved Labrador retrievers. The wildlife that made their home on her acreage east of town knew her as a friend.

Gladys’ husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were dear to her and she was proud of their accomplishments. She had fond recollections of family outings in the wilderness and of the days spent on their little ranch east of Hamilton.

Gladys spent the last 9 years of her life at Bee Hive Homes of Hamilton. Cameron, Lisa, the Staff, all the residents and Ollie, the super dog, made her a part of their family and created a real home for her. Their love made her final years a very positive experience. The family is eternally grateful for this gift.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband John Smith, sisters Roselyn Hopgood of Belmont, CA, Andrea Smith of Goleta, CA, and brother Lyn Johnson of La Verne, CA.  Gladys is survived by daughters, Sally (John) Morsell of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Laurie (Randy) Tremble of Duluth, MN and son, Walter (Sheila Berkley) Smith of Hamilton. Gladys also leaves granddaughter Josie (Thomas McGinley) Boggs of La Grande, OR, grandsons Alic Boggs of HI, Keaton (Hannah) Tremble of Salt Lake City, UT, Jake Tremble of Duluth, MN, and great grandchildren Quinn and Zoey Boggs of HI.

The family will hold a private memorial at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alan Applebury’s Fox Hollow Animal Project. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com