Avis Smith, 97

Avis Robinson Smith, 97, of Mountain Home, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006, at a local care center.

Services will be held at a later date in Etna, Calif. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Avis was born to Kearney and Lelace Clark Robinson of Scott Valley on Dec. 4, 1908, near Etna, Calif., in her maternal grandparents' home in French Camp.

Avis attended various elementary schools in Scott Valley and one school in Central Point, Ore. She graduated from Etna High School.

For many years she was a soprano soloist at community events and was active in several Scott Valley organizations. She was a past-president of the Parent-Teachers' Association in Etna and was active in that organization during the 1930s and 1940s, helping bring about the building of a new elementary school. Avis was a member of the Congregational Church, later becoming a member of the Methodist Church. She sang in church choirs for many years and in the Scott Valley Singers.

In 1940 Avis and her husband, Halbert, moved from Etna to the Smith family farm on South Kidder Creek Road, near Greenview, where they lived for twenty years.

Avis was an active member of Scott Valley Grange during those years. She provided a home for several foster children at the farm during the 1950s.

In 1960 Avis and Halbert moved to Yreka, Calif., where both were employed. Her employer before her retirement was Lake's Dress Shop.

Avis was a charter member of the Siskiyou Artists' Association and had her own art show in 1967.

In 1986 she published a book of her poetry.

She is survived by: her daughters, Lelace V. Gregory of Boise, Iva M. Carlson of Yreka, Nadine Roberts of Mountain Home, several nieces and one nephew, eleven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Halbert, in 1983, daughter, Marilyn Fasoletti of Yreka, and a sister, Iva Welch of Albany, Ore., in 1987.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, Red Cross or the Etna Methodist Church, Etna, California 96027.