Rosella Lorraine "Kelly" Smith

March 4, 1929-Jan. 9, 2010

Rosella Lorraine "Kelly" Smith, 80, died peacefully in her Eagle River home January 9, 2010.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 13, 2010, at the VFW Post in Eagle River.

She was born March 4, 1929, in South Gate, Calif., to Roy and Evelyn Gibbo.

Kelly married Delbert Smith in 1948. As a military wife, Kelly, with Delbert, raised three children while traveling extensively. They enjoyed motor-homing, fishing, and camping together for many years.

Kelly also enjoyed oil painting, mushroom hunting, cooking and entertaining, gardening and millinery. Her favorite celebration was New Years, which included holding an open house, serving black-eyed peas and hush puppies and many gourmet items. Attending Anchorage Opera functions with her friends was a true joy to Kelly.

During the 1970s, Kelly was employed as secretary for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce. In 1976, Kelly opened the first travel agency in Eagle River.

She was involved in many organizations and was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma PHI, VFW Post 9785 Auxiliary Ladies Military Code of the Cooties and The Good Sam Club. She was also a member of the American Legion Post 33 Ladies Auxiliary, Elks Club of Eagle River, Officers Spouse Club Elmendorf Air Force Base, Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center, and she spent many years as the VFW Post 9785 Auxiliary volunteer chairwoman of the American Cancer Society "Daffodil Days."

Additionally, for 15 years, Kelly was the VFW Post 9785 Auxiliary chairwoman for "Walk of Hope," checkpoint two.

In her later years, Kelly enjoyed traveling worldwide and sharing time with her longtime friends.

Her family wrote, "She touched many lives and leaves us all with a variety of wonderful memories. She was an intelligent, classy lady, with a kind soul. She will be greatly missed."

Kelly is preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Smith, son Curt Smith and daughter Candice Frank.

She is survived by her son Craig S. Smith and his lifetime companion Pamela Wrightson, both of Chugiak; son-in-law Charles 'Chip' Frank of Seattle, Wash., and many relatives in California.