Phyllis Joan Smith

Phyllis Joan (Petie) Smith (nee Peters), passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Naples, FL on February 13th, 2012 while vacationing with her husband. Phyllis is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Noel L. Smith of Clyde Hill and 4 remaining children: Angela (Oscar) Moretti of Houston, TX; Michael B. (Christie) of Tacoma, WA; Patricia J. Doyle of Chicago, IL; and Stone (Samantha) Smith of Bothell, WA. In addition she is survived by 10 grandchildren: Laura (Grant) Challen, Adrian Moretti, Alison and Adam Smith, Kim Hollins, Erin and Tom Doyle, and Benjamin, Zachary and Samuel Smith – and one great grandson, Matthew Challen who was born on her 82nd birthday. Additional survivors include her older brother Warren Peters of Superior WI, brother-in-law Robert (Diane) Smith of Henderson, NV, nephew Kevin Christian (Nancy Love) of Des Moines, WA, Joannie (Gil) Lyons of Redmond, WA and many other beloved nieces and nephews. Petie is preceded by her parents and 3 older siblings: Sylvester, Lloyd and Esther as well as her beloved daughter Catherine Ann Smith.

Petie was born on April 28, 1929, in St. Cloud, MN. Petie was the youngest of 5 children born to Hubert & Abbie Peters (Wocken). She was a graduate of Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. Petie was 1 of 5 women among of the 115 graduates receiving their B.S. in Business Administration from Marquette University in 1951 (Milwaukee, WI).

As a ‘stewardess’ with Northwest Airlines, Petie met a passenger who became the love of her life and from whom she was inseparable the rest of her days, Lt. j.g. Noel L. Smith. Noel and Petie married in 1956 and their 1st residence was in Northfield N.J. where Noel was stationed as a Navy carrier pilot.

They moved to Minneapolis in 1957 and Noel became a pilot for Northwest Airlines. During his 30 years with the airline, they also lived in Rosemount, MN, and Honolulu, HI before transferring to the Seattle, WA area in 1972, and eventually retiring in Clyde Hill, WA.

In addition to being a wonderful wife, homemaker and mother, Petie was giving of her time and talents to her community. She has been an active supporter of Sacred Heart Church, the Overlake Hospital Foundation, and a long time active member of the Overlake Country Club ladies’ division. Petie was a member of the Cancer Auxiliary at Overlake Hospital and was an active walker in the Walk for Life program at Bellevue Square. She was also a lifetime members of Marquette University’s President’s Club and the Evans Scholars Par Club. They also belonged to the Children’s Hospital Circle of Care, the Marquette Alumni Club of Western, WA, and the Northwest Airlines Retired Airline Pilots Association.

Petie believed she lived in the best of times and enjoyed playing golf and also very much enjoyed her bridge club of many years.

Suggested memorials would be to the Overlake Hospital Foundation or the Noel L. and Phyllis (Petie) Smith Endowment for Uncompensated Care at Children’s Hospital.