Winnifred Evelyn Smith

Our beloved Winnifred Evelyn (Harris) Smith joined the love of her life, her husband of many years, Fred Macrae Smith, on December 17, 2025, when she passed away at the age of 103.

She leaves behind two sons, Monty Smith and Craig Smith, and Craig’s wife, Dana (Henken) Smith. She was the grandmother of four: two grandsons by Monty, Shawn and Jeff Smith, and a grandson, Samuel, and a granddaughter, Sara, by Craig. She also leaves behind two great-grandsons by Shawn: Luca and Enzo. Throughout her life, she was the true matriarch of our family, an amazing wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend to so many.

Born in a hospital in Everson, WA, on October 1, 1922, she was the only daughter of Richard and Easter Harris of Abbotsford Prairie, B.C. Winnie, who was always such a beautiful woman, was crowned May Queen in the summer of 1936, the same year as Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee! While she had no siblings, she was the delight of her aunties, especially Inez, who brought her down to Bellingham following Winnie’s high school graduation, where she met Fred Smith. They both fell head over heels in love and became husband and wife, making Bellingham their home.

The mother of two boys, Craig and Monty, she and Fred always worked as an amazing team, with her staying home and raising their children while Fred worked tirelessly in the Alaska Arctic for their family. Much later, after their boys were grown, Fred’s job took him to American Samoa and Truk and Winnie happily joined him on this new adventure. A tiny woman, she was known to fearlessly drive a two-ton construction truck into town to join her new friends for games of bridge, something she continued to play well throughout her life.

She loved doting on her family, dancing, traveling, and entertaining! Her soirées at their Bellingham home at both Gooseberry Point and in Desert Hot Springs were legendary! How they fit over 50 guests on that small carport at Rainbow Spas is beyond me, but they did, and people flocked to them!

Her adventurous spirit shone through on all of her and Fred’s trips, including one in which they literally traveled the world after Fred retired from Haskell Corporation. She loved square dancing in the county, ballroom dancing at the Elks and Bellingham Country Club, and later, dancing at the Bellingham Senior Center. Most of all, she will be remembered for her ready smile, her welcoming spirit, her incredible grace, and her love for her family and friends. Winnie, we were all so lucky to have had you in our lives. We love you and will always miss you.

Please join us for a celebration of her life on Tuesday, January 13th beginning at 3:00 pm, at The Bellingham Senior Activity Center (315 Halleck Street, Bellingham).

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Bellingham Senior Activity Center.