Wanda Marie Smith
Wanda was born on June 16, 1930, in Kansas. She had her parents, John Harrison Spencer and Ruby Ethel Ragsdale Spencer, to herself, until siblings Wilma and Jack joined her.
She married Ray Smith in 1948. They had three children, Steven, Vicki and Kelly. Ray and Wanda divorced in 1962, and Wanda went on to raiser her children by herself.
Wanda wasn’t afraid of moving on to make a life for herself. She lived many places, worked many jobs and as a result had many friends. One of Wanda’s greatest pleasures in her adult life was keeping in touch with her high school friends.
In January, while living in Port Angeles, WA, she was diagnosed with cancer. In March, she told her family. Her niece opened her home to Wanda. Wanda gratefully accepted Leissa’s offer and she returned to Missoula one more time.
With the consistent loving care of Kelly and Wilma, she transitioned comfortably.
Cards, letters, phone calls and company poured in to the very end and she enjoyed every one of them. She consistently got more mail than Leiss and it became a common joke in the house. Wanda’s sense of humor was brightest during her ordeal. She had all the care anyone needed.
Her parents preceded her in death. During this life, she also lost her much-loved son Steven Ray Smith; her brother Jack Spencer; and most recently her grandson Taige Steven Smith.
She is survived by son Kelly Scott Smith (Linda) of Missoula; daughter Vicki Lynn Smith of Billings; sister Wilma Spence and her children, Leissa Wages, Lori Taylor and Kent Kirby; granddaughter Hailey LePiane in Alaska; and grandsons Parker Deden Smith and Daniel LePiane in Missoula. We must not forget her devoted Shih Tzu, Georgie. Wilma’s littlest grandson Christopher has offered Georgie a good home.
Wanda moved one more time on Sunday, June 6, 2010. At her request, there will be no services or memorial. Her ashes will rest at her son’s gravesite in the Bitterroot Valley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Missoula.