Frances Evelyn Smith

Frances Evelyn Smith closed out the last chapter of her colorful life with a peaceful ending at home with family at the age of 96. Born in Strawberry Plains, TN, to John Riley Monday and Margaret Luttrell Monday, Evelyn began a happy childhood with her six siblings until her father died unexpectedly, and the family was left destitute.

At age 6, she traveled by bus with her brother from her aunts’ home in rural Tennessee to Anderson, joining her newly remarried mother and older siblings. Like many children of the Great Depression, Evelyn developed an early work ethic as well as an entrepreneurial spark. At 7, she began buying 10-cent bottles of perfume at the local five-and-dime and then resold them around the neighborhood for a profit. That was the first in a litany of occupations; to name a few: factory worker, bartender, cook, manager of a wig warehouse, and most notably, the first female consultant (at that time, women were not referred to as “agents”) for Metropolitan Insurance Co. She retired as a rural route carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where she met her final husband (practice makes perfect) and soul mate, Russell Smith.

Unlike many children of the Great Depression, Evelyn had no patience for austerity. She preferred life in abundance and surrounded herself with beauty. No one could rival her sense of fashion. A fan of Broadway, she taught herself to play piano by ear. She was a champion speller in elementary school, excelled in her studies at Anderson High School and carried a penchant for words throughout her life- from the crosswords and crypto quotes that she enjoyed each day to the entertaining stories she recounted for her family and friends. What many will remember most fondly about Evelyn, though, is her laughter.

In addition to her parents and Russell, Evelyn is preceded in death by her 6 siblings: sister Dorothy. Kate “Mickey”, Blanche, Helen, and Joan, and brother Homer.

Evelyn is survived by her five children- Gerald Van Dalsen of Davenport, WA: Frances Kay (Mike) Hauk of Anderson; Barb Niccum of Anderson; Carla Nelson of Sacramento, CA; and Tina (Jim) Vanderbur of Alexandria; 12 grandchildren Sandra (Scott) Larisch, Michael Van Dalsen (Jodi), Nikki Kingery (Dave Caudill), Jason (Edna) Houser, David Houser, Andrea Niccum, Sarah Niccum, Zac (Kacey) Kranich, Jennifer (Rob) Able, Heather Baldwin, Gabe (Rebecca) Vanderbur, and Carli Vanderbur; 18 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; and special niece Judy Tinch.

Cremation was chosen through Legacy Cremation and Funeral Service – Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Animal Protection League in Anderson.