Kay Arlene (Eccles) Smith

Kay Arlene (Eccles) Smith, 69, lifetime resident of Moses Lake, passed away Oct. 6 at Samaritan Hospital following a long illness. She was born Dec. 27, 1937, in Ellensburg, to Harold Eccles and Mae (Stingley) Eccles.

Kay graduated from Moses Lake High School, class of 1955, and attended Central Washington University. She worked for her uncle at Eccles Appliance as an accountant for many years before leaving to become a rural letter carrier. She retired from the Postal Service in 2000 to spend more time with and care for her family.

Kay was a devoted, attentive and loving mother and enjoyed sharing family cruises on Moses Lake in their pontoon boat which she named the "Love Boat" and annual family vacations on Lake Chelan. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles, card games and was always willing to play board games with the grandkids and friends. She embraced family with her generous, loving and caring nature. Her quick mind and intellect provided much wisdom, humor and down to earth advice. Her lifelong hobby was Barbie dolls, which she collected and displayed. She greatly enjoyed watching the grandchildren play with the dolls. Her homegrown tomatoes were second to none and harvest time was her time to share with family and friends.

She served for many years as the president of the local Postal Workers Union. Always interested in the pioneer history of Grant County, she was a frequent and valued contributor to books, articles and letters to the editor with historical information in the Columbia Basin Herald. She continued a longstanding family tradition of going to garage sales and seeking bargains and interesting treasures for her family and friends. Shopping with Kay was not only an art - it was an adventure. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband LD Smith. She is survived by her daughter Tracy (Manuel) Miller, son Larry (Kasee) Smith, stepson Allen (Deanna) Smith, sister Gail (Walt) Farrar of Ellensburg; grandchildren, Tim and Shawn Miller; Sage, Jacee and River Smith, Berlin Davis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday Oct. 11, 2007, at Kayser's Chapel of Memories with Pastor Doug Sherman officiating. Interment will follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Visitation will take place at the funeral home Wednesday, Oct. 10 from noon until 7 p.m.