Laura Smart

Laura Smart went to sleep the morning of Oct. 31, 2023. She was predeceased by her loving husband Hazen in 2019 after 67 years of loving marriage. She had also previously lost two of her sons, Dan Smart (Heather) in 2014 and Lindsay Smart in 2021. She will be fondly remembered by her son Tim Smart and his wife Janice along with her daughter Carolyn Haynes and her husband Floyd. She will also sadly be missed by her grandchildren Charity, Chad, Vanessa, Devon, and Nolan and their spouses. She was also blessed with 7 great grandchildren and 1 on the way.

Laura was born in Canwood, Saskatchewan on May 2, 1932 and spent her early years growing up with her 5 siblings - all brothers - Russell, Bateese, Jerry, Henry, and Einar on a farmstead in Big River, Sask. She grew up in a tough time and because of that and being the only girl in a family of six she became a very determined and strong woman.

A huge part of her life centered around being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses which also molded her as she dealt with tests in school when she and her brothers were expelled for taking a stand of neutrality. She would tell us how she and her brothers would all walk the long trek from the farm to school in Big River every day only to be sent home if they refused to salute a flag. They would then march home to do it all over again the next day. It was experiences like this that made her resolute in her faith and devotion and because of that faith she dedicated her life as a young girl of nine to serve her God Jehovah which she faithfully did until her last breath. When Laura and Hazen were first married on April 26th 1952 they pioneered together sharing the message of God’s Kingdom with people in Newfoundland.

They eventually settled in Cranbrook, BC in 1954 and started a family. Dan came first in 1955 followed closely by Tim in 1957. In Aug. of 1963 they moved the family to Invermere, BC where Lindsay was born in 1965. Never one to stay in any single spot for long the next move brought them to Fruitvale, BC where her only daughter Carolyn was born in 1972.

Laura absolutely loved being a mother and homemaker which she was extremely good at. She was noted for her exceptional cooking and baking and she was a seamstress that could easily have made a fortune in the fashion world. Her ability was a gift and she clothed the whole family with her array of sewing machines over her lifetime. She could look at a person wearing a dress or a coat and then go home and turn out a replica in any size needed without a pattern to go by. Her love and expertise though, was in altering articles of clothing for family and friends, particularly, men's suit jackets. Upon completion, she would hear comments such as, “Fits like it was made for me!”; “How did you do that?” At a very young age she gained this mastery out of pure interest and by using a very unusual dress form which was a small straw doll. There wasn't anything that she couldn't sew. No doubt her skills will be put to good use in the coming Paradise.

Her personal study of the Bible and family kept her happy and busy but during her whole lifetime she would never miss an opportunity to talk about her faith and she spent many hours pioneering and helping others to learn the truth about the Bible. She will always be remembered for her teaching skills and love of people. She would be very happy to have time to tell anyone who would listen about her solid hope for the future and a time when there will be a resurrection that is mentioned in the Bible at John 5:28,29. She has firmly placed herself in line to benefit from that very resurrection and we all look forward to welcoming her back in a new world that the Bible promises and when she will not experience the maladies of old age or bad eyesight which particularly plagued her in the later years.

Laura and Hazen lived the longest time they ever did, in one spot, in Coldstream, BC. They moved here in June of 2000 where they shared hospitality with friends and family in the Vernon area. Many will recall times spent together with them sharing a meal or playing cards. Laura loved games and even when nobody was around she would play solitaire for hours.

With both Hazen and Laura experiencing increasingly failing health they made the choice to move into assisted living. It was there, that Laura lost Hazen. And then came COVID. She was managing adequately until one fateful night in September 2020, where she fell and broke her leg. This led to an extended hospital stay and then a re-location to long-term care. It was while in long-term care that her health started to fail rapidly. She was a tiny person on the outside but a larger than life person in our world. She will be tremendously missed by anyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Our whole family want to send thanks to the many people who cared for her and assisted her while in LTC. We also want to send huge thanks to all of the brothers and sisters in the Vernon area and to her many other friends that she made while living in Vernon, for their visits, support, and encouragement in the final part of her life.

Funeral Services to be held on December 2, 2023 @ 2:00 pm with a tea to follow at

Okanagan Assembly Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses (East Hall). (1424 Mission Road, Vernon BC, V1T 8Y2). Will also be on Zoom. Please contact family for Zoom Credentials. E-mail: [email protected]