Long time Alaskan resident, Mary V. Smith, 82, died March 26 at home of natural causes.

Mrs. Smith was born Oct. 11, 1926 in Jacksonville, Texas to Joseph and Anna Martin. After graduating from Reagan High School in Houston, Texas, she worked for the Navy as a clerk during WWII. In 1946, she married Bill Holbert. With their young daughter, Donnell, they were stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.

In 1950, Mrs. Smith married Capt. William Westfall. While at Fort Knox, their sons, Karl and Keith were born. In 1952 the family was transferred to Fort Richardson where their third son, Kurt was born. After meeting friends who had homesteaded in the Knik area they got the homesteading bug themselves and homesteaded 160 acres on Lake Beth. Eventually they got it right and had two daughters, Katy and Kristi. After divorcing Bill Westfall and moving back to Anchorage, she went to work for FAA where she worked until her retirement in the1980s. She married Walter W. Smith in 1962. They raised the family in their East Anchorage home. In 1968, she decided to take advantage of the new FAA flying club and earned her private pilot’s license. She also enjoyed adventures in the outdoors — hunting at the cabin and participating in the Gem and Mineral Society’s trips to remote places in Alaska. She especially enjoyed her trips to Iditarod and Flat, Alaska. She was an avid gardener, quilter and photographer.

Her family wrote: “Our mother was very honest and direct and would tell it as it was. She was a generous mother and grandmother with her affection and knowledge. She was always willing to share her wisdom but allowed her children to choose their own way.”

Mrs. Smith is survived by her brother, Larry A. Martin of Alpine, Texas; sons, Keith (LaDonna) Westfall of Big Lake, Kurt (Nat) Westfall of Wasilla; daughters, Katy Westfall Neher and Kristi (Erika) Westfall Jacobs of Anchorage, Donnell (Walter) Wyatt of Henderson, Nevada. Grandchildren, Heather (Arnold) Velasquez of Ignacio, Colo., Heidi Westfall of Houston, Texas, Kortnie and Kaleb Westfall of Big Lake, Mary (Chris) Van Buskirk of Wasilla, Mary Jo (Mick) Neher-Laymon of Chicago, Liberty (Ray) Lally, Spencerville, N.Y., Chelsey Jacobs of Cape Coral, Fla., Buster (Becky) Morris of Casper, Wyo., Charles Guy Morris of Henderson, Nevada and Richard Morris of London, England. Also surviving is her sister-in-law, Anne Burt, of Anchorage and a extended family in the Lower 48. Mrs. Smith was blessed with 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter W. Smith, son, Karl W. Westfall and granddaughter, Melissa J. Neher.

A memorial service is planned for Thursday at 1 p.m., (visitation will precede the service at noon) at Alaska Heritage Memorial Chapel, 440 E. Klatt Road. A reception following the service will be held at Chester Park Co-op, 2020 Muldoon Road. The family suggests memorials to the charity of their choice.