Annie Lou Smith

Wasilla resident Annie Lou Smith, 79, passed away Nov. 1, 2013, at Providence Alaska Medical Center due to complications with her heart and lungs.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m., Nov. 9 at Christ First United Methodist Church, 5137 W. Fairview Loop, Wasilla. Burial will follow at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.

Annie was born in Asheboro, N.C., Dec. 26, 1933, to Raleigh Roscoe and Novella (Cain) Hunter. She married Gene Baber Dyer after high school and they moved to Florida. After divorcing Gene, she married Olen Edward Smith and later moved to Alabama before coming to Anchorage in 1965. They left Alaska and moved to North Carolina after she retired after working for Northwest Airlines for 17 years. She worked for Asheboro City Schools for seven years, retiring to look after her mother. In 1996, they returned to Alaska, living in Wasilla, where they built their last home.

Her favorite pastimes were watching birds in the yard, the pet squirrel Rascal, working word puzzles, knitting, sewing, painting and drawing scenes of Alaska.

Surviving are her son, Ricky Gene (Vicki) Smith of Wasilla; son, Olen Daniel (Sylvia) Smith of Anchorage; grandchildren, Mary Beth Smith, George Talbot, Andrew (Jennifer) Smith, Edward Smith, Joel Smith, Josh Smith and Hannah Smith, all of Anchorage; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Olen, to whom she was married for 50 years; her parents; and nine siblings.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an animal or bird charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Cremation Society of Alaska/Mat-Su. Words of comfort may be shared with the family online at alaskacremation.com.