Vera Yuen Oi Smith

Featured in: October 2017

SMITH — Vera Yuen Oi (Lyau), 90; born Feb. 11, 1926, Honolulu, Hawaii; died July 10, 2017, Avondale, Ariz. Surviving: daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanine (Smith) and Ron Linder, Goodyear, Ariz.; Joanne (Smith) and Dave Futcher, Avondale; Janelle (Smith) and Victor Muthiah, Riverside, Calif.; Colette (Smith) and Steve Kirkwood, Damascus, Ore.; brother, Chester Lyau, Las Vegas, Nev.; 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

After graduating from Pacific Union College in California, Vera returned to Hawaii as an elementary school teacher. She married educator Wilmot K. Smith in 1950, took a brief break to raise four daughters and finished her career as first grade teacher at Mokapu Elementary School at the Marine Base in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Long time residents of Kailua since 1960, Vera spent the first 5 years of retirement exploring North America in a travel trailer with Wilmot. They moved back to Kauai, Hawaii, to be near two of their daughters and young families for nearly 10 years. In 1993, Vera moved with Wilmot to Oregon to be near their daughters' families and in 2003 moved in with daughter Jeanine and son-in-law Ron. Vera had recently moved with Jeanine and Ron to Goodyear, Ariz. She is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many cherished friends.

Memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 at 4 p.m. Glendale Church, Phoenix, Ariz. A service will also be held at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Happy Valley, Ore., at a later date. Please contact family for details.

In lieu of flowers, contribute to Trombone Choir at Sunnyside Church (Portland, Ore.), Worthy Student Fund at Glendale Church (Phoenix, Ariz.) or to your favorite charity.