Victoria Smith

On Tuesday, August 17, 1948, a baby girl named Victoria Jeanine Admire opened her eyes to the world for the first time.  She was a source of joy for her parents Delbert and Wilma Admire.  She was the first of 4 children they would have although ten years would pass before her first brother came along.   Vicki had a normal childhood and would lend a hand in raising her 3 brothers; Dale, Brian and Marty, while attending school in Mexico, Missouri.

After high school, Vicki attended Hannibal-LaGrange College.  During her first year in college in 1967, she met the love of her life and future husband George Everett Smith.  She met George at church that year while he was in Missouri as part of a Voluntary Service Program through the Bethel Mennonite Church in Michigan.

On December 27, 1968 George and Vicki were married and she followed George back to Michigan in early 1969.  George and Vicki settled down and to their elation, just a couple years later on March 22, 1971, their first child, Michelle Renee Smith, was born to them.  Vicki and George’s family started growing.  A couple short years later on October 28, 1973, they were blessed with a son who they named Scott Christopher Smith.   Vicki enjoyed traveling with her family and visiting different places in the U.S.  They never had much money but they had lots of love and knew how to make the most of what they had.

As time marched on, Michelle and Scott grew up and started families of their own.  Scott met and married Kristin McNamara on May 23, 1998.   Later, Michelle met and married Joe Corgan on October 25, 2003.

To her and George’s joy, their first grandchild was born on January 11, 2003.  He was named Samuel Christopher Smith and just a few years later his sister Emma Elizabeth Smith was born on March 10, 2006.  Vicki loved her grandchildren more than life itself.  She would attend Sam’s soccer games when she could and Emma’s dance recitals.  Vicki’s world revolved around her family.

Vicki was a talented woman who delved into all sorts of crafts but really excelled at her tole painting, basket making and quilting.  She would make tons of baskets and her and George would take the kids and travel to art shows to sell them.  When Kristin was expecting Sam, Vicki made a beautiful bassinette with her basket making skills and George made the base on which it sat, further evidence Vicki and George were two halves of the same soul.

After her first fight with cancer, Vicki continued to make baskets and later started quilting.  Vicki was her own worst critic when it came to her creations but everyone else saw the brilliance, the talent and beauty she put into her quilts, bags and baskets.  If you were lucky enough to own one of her quilts or baskets, you can attest to her talent.

Just a few months after Scott and Kristin’s wedding, Vicki was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.   There was talk of her maybe only having six months left but that didn’t stop her.  By her faith, will and strength of spirit, she fought and won over the cancer that threatened her.  After her first surgery, she and George vacationed in Hawaii for a month relaxing and healing her body and mind before starting her first chemo treatment.  Unfortunately, the cancer had already made it to her lymph nodes and this would be but the first of many battles that Vicki would have to fight over the next 19 years.  And fight them she did, all the time keeping her spirits up, drawing strength from her family, friends and faith.  You would never know to look at her that she was fighting so ferociously to beat such an unrelenting foe.  But beat it back she did and in between the battles she enjoyed life to its fullest.   She would host sleep overs for the grandkids or her and George would pack up the camper and go camping for a week or two at a time.  She loved to camp.  The battles were nothing more to her than a few pot holes in the road of life she would have to slow down for and go around.

Due to Vicki’s unrelenting spirit and faith and with the help of Doctors Herman, Rapson, Meunier and Kareti, Vicki stole an additional 19 years of life from her foe.   She got to see her daughter get married, she got to know and love her grandkids and them her.

Sadly, on Sunday, November 12, 2017, Vicki ascended to Heaven where she is with the Lord, free from pain and cancer and once again united with her parents Delbert and Wilma Admire along with her mother and father-in-law George and Wilma Smith.  Vicki always wanted a larger house and now she lives eternally in a mansion.  She will be forever missed by those of us who knew and loved her.

A Memorial Service will be held at Bethel Mennonite Church, Ashley, MI on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Joe Pendelton officiating.  Visitation will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. until the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to Herbert Herman Cancer Center Lansing, MI.  Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.