Sally Smith

Our beloved Mother, Sally Smith, 88 years old, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2015 at 6:18 P.M. at Promise Hospital (in LDS Hospital) in Salt Lake City, UT, due to unending recent illness, 16 years of very mild Alzheimer's, and age. We wish to thank everyone there for the excellent care she received. She will be sadly missed by us and all who knew her.

She was born May 1, 1926, second oldest by fifteen minutes from her identical twin sister, Patricia, in Mishawaka, IN, daughter of Christine M. Klaer Parr and Raymond Frank Parr. One of eleven children, she began early helping with household chores, duties, caring for the other children (one deaf), and her mother's brother who had uncontrollable diabetes. This began her life-long passion of caring, especially for those ill or less fortunate. She always made us realize and remember that we were lucky to be healthy and whole, as so many less fortunate were not.

She and her twin sister, Pat, did many things together while growing up. For a time they worked as waitresses at the Bonnie Doone Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor, Ball-Band on the Victory Shift, many temporary or part-time jobs, always freely giving their parents and family most of their earnings to help get through the Depression, and volunteered at many church and public events when time allowed. While growing up they had a close friend, Maggie, with a hearty 'haw-haw-haw' laugh, and the three blonds were always together during free time, becoming known lovingly as "The Triple Terror," though Maggie did most of the small shenanigans. They attended many concerts and dances, even as far away as Chicago, trusted and unchaperoned, always watching out for each other, they always had fun, and never got into any real trouble or problems. Many times the three would triple-date. Many times Mom and Pat would switch dates with each other several times throughout the evening, and I believe only once did one of the dates figure out they switched. They giggled and laughed about these times for many years.

After high school, Mom and Pat enrolled in the Cadet Nursing Program in Indianapolis, during World War II, and became third-generation nurses. She loved nursing. Many close relatives also followed in their health care career choice. After graduation, and after the War, they worked at the Marion, IN VA Hospital, where she met another employee, Richard Joseph Smith. They married on February 19, 1949. They moved many times during the years to follow our Dad's career with Montgomery Ward, and other companies. When they began having their four children, Mike, Pat, Jeff and Rick, she paused her nursing career until all were well along in school. When she restarted nursing in 1965, her skills, precision and attention to detail led to her being asked to work extra shifts in the hospitals and a few nursing homes where she was employed, mostly working the night shift. In the early 1970s, she became Night Supervisor at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, IN, helping the other nurses, and kept that position for the rest of her career. When they moved to the Salt Lake City, UT area in 1977, the second day after arriving she decided to apply for a position at Cottonwood Hospital, as it might be some time until a spot was open. With her resume and accomplishments, she was asked to become Night Supervisor immediately and begin working that night, which she had to decline until after unpacking. She continued her nursing education updates, quickly becoming proficient and expert in highly specialized procedures, and was 'lent out' to other area hospitals several times for these talents. She retired from Cottonwood Hospital in 1990, however she was asked to work part-time. This quickly escalated to 40 hours a week, and more. She completely retired in December, 1994. Through the years at most of the hospitals she worked, she was given many awards, citations, and gifts from management for her outstanding service, commitment, and proficient medical procedure knowledge.

She enjoyed good conversation with good food and good friends, playing Bridge, travel and sight-seeing, going to movies, short vacations, laughing, talking and visiting with family often, and new experiences such as painting. She always had a unique way of interpreting things, such as scary movies, where we would learn to not be scared, and take charge of precarious situations if needed. It was extremely rare to ever find her not in a good mood, smiling, helpful, or jovial, even when she was very ill or in extreme pain or discomfort. She tried passing along these views and traits to all by example, saying "Why be so negative about things when it gets you nowhere but down?"

She is survived by: three sons, Michael Dennis, Jon Jeffrey (her birthday-son), and Richard Joseph, Jr.; two sisters, Catherine (Royce) Holmes, Christine (Roy) Cripe; brother-in-law Jerry Crowe, sister-in-law Jan Parr; and many nieces, nephews and relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Patrick Jay, four brothers and four sisters.

Viewing will be at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street, Midvale, UT, on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 6 to 8 PM. Catholic burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery, 7800 South 1300 West, West Jordan, UT on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 3 PM in a private service. Pallbearers will be Greg Hedstrom, Jason Hedstrom, Von Desmond, and Jeff Argyle. A Catholic Mass is also being arranged. Full obituary can be seen at www.goffmortuary.com .

We know she is no longer in pain or discomfort and is visiting and laughing with all her loved ones who have passed, especially her twin sister, Pat, husband, Dick, and son, Pat-Pat. We who remain are so saddened by our loss and will greatly miss her smile and attitude, clear and sage advice and wit, and her never-ending love, support, hugs and kisses. Mom, you are home again with God and all, and we will all meet again. "Home again, home again, jiggity-jig!" Love you, Mom, lots and lots and lots!