Fay Hopkin Smith

Posted

(Jan. 17, 2007)

Funeral services for Fay Winifred Hopkin Smith will be held Saturday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Ave. E Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She died Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the age of 91 in the Powell Valley Care Center where she had been a resident for two weeks.

Fay was born June 29, 1915 in Penrose, Wyo., to Fredrick William Hopkin and Elizabeth Wilson Hopkin. She attended the Penrose School through the first five grades until the schools were consolidated and the children were transported to Powell. She graduated from Powell High School in 1933.

After graduation she moved to Powell, and with her spirit of independence, she found an office job with Roney Sales and Service where she worked for many years.

On Aug. 2, 1938, she married James H. Smith who had moved to Garland from Indiana some years earlier. A short time after their marriage, they purchased a farm in the Northend Community. Their two sons, Harold and Dennis, were born there. They farmed there for the remainder of their married life, adding more acreage through the years until Smith Farms became an extensive and profitable operation.

Having grown up on a farm, milking cows and driving tractors, Fay became a working partner on the farm and involved herself in the day-to-day operations associated with it. When the boys were grown up enough to be of some help, Fay returned to work in the office, this time with the Farmers’ Home Administration. She continued there for many years, even after Jim’s retirement when they built a home on Division Street in Powell and moved to town. Harold and Dennis assumed the responsibilities of the farm after her husband’s retirement.

Tragedy came into Fay’s life with the death of her two sons and husband. Harold died in a farm accident in 1978; husband, Jim, died in 1995; and son, Dennis, died in 1999 of a brain tumor.

Her life would have been empty and without purpose except for the care and attention of her two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. She delighted in their frequent visits at her home and later at the Heartland, and also enjoyed attending their school and family activities

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all her life and participated as Sunday School Secretary and Ward Librarian for many years. She was also a visiting teacher.

Survivors include her daughters-in-law, Ardell Smith and Judy Loyning, both of Powell; six grandchildren, Denise (Dan) Laursen, Shane Smith, Becky Rosin, Greg (Tracy) Smith, Travis (Carei) Smith, and Ginger (Randy) Lieser. Also surviving are 15 great-grandchildren; one sister, Zona Roper; a brother, Burchell Hopkin; and two sisters-in-law, Dorcas Hopkin and Alyce Hopkin.

She was preceded in death by her husband and two sons; a sister, Mary Simian; and two brothers, Fred W. Hopkin and Harold (Whitey) Hopkin.

Visitation will be Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church.

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