Myrtle Dillingham Smith

ARDEN—Myrtle Etta Dillingham Smith, age 95 passed from this life to the next on February 1, 2013, at her daughter's home in Arden. She was born in Dillingham (Barnardsville), on May 21, 1917, to Vestal J. Dillingham and Mary Etta Jarrett Dillingham where she spent her childhood with her brothers, V. J. Dillingham, Carlee Dillingham, Oscar Dillingham, and Walter Dillingham and her sisters Lois Dillingham Proffitt and Nan Dillingham, all of whom preceded her in death. Myrtle grew up as a member of the Dillingham Presbyterian Church and in her later years was a member of Oak Forest Presbyterian Church. She married Hoyte Moore Smith in Cheboygan, Michigan, in 1938, and they celebrated 62 years of marriage before his passing in 2000. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Hoyte Moore Smith, Jr. After living in Cheboygan, she returned to Barnardsville for a while then lived several years in Newport News, VA, and Tullahoma, TN. However, she spent the majority of her life living in West Asheville enjoying being surrounded by the mountains she loved so much. She is survived by three daughters and one son: Carol Hall and husband, Wayne Fisgus of Candler; Billie and husband, George Davis of Asheville; Una and husband, Kenneth Mullis of Arden; and Larry and wife, Anne Smith of Arden. She also is survived by ten grandchildren who knew her as Mimi-- Ken Bailey of Candler, Bert Plemmons of Phoenix, AZ, Brad Bailey of Boston, MA, David Plemmons of Bellemont, AZ, Robert Phillips of Midlothian, VA, Eric Phillips of Lebanon, TN, Leigh Enderle of Cincinnati, OH, Tim Plemmons of Charlotte, Tadd Hall of Cary, and Valerie Smith of Durham, eleven great grandchildren and several step grandchildren. Myrtle was a housewife and mother and spent her life welcoming family and friends in her home with an open heart and open kitchen. After rearing her own children, she spent much of her time caring for her grandchildren and influenced them greatly with her kind heart and words of encouragement. She was an avid gardener but her legacy will be the unconditional love, support, and faith in God she instilled in her family. She loved music and enjoyed singing with Hoyte as he strummed the guitar. Family and friends will gather at West Funeral Home to remember and celebrate Myrtle's life with a visitation on Sunday, February 3, 2013, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and the funeral service will be Monday, February 4, 2013, at 2:30 pm, also at West Funeral Home. The services will be officiated by her two sons-in-law, Rev. Kenneth Mullis and Rev. George Davis. Her remains will be interred beside her husband at West Memorial Park in Weaverville. Memorial donations may be made to CarePartners Health Services/Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 whose supportive, loving care provided so much comfort to Myrtle and her family for the past weeks. Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer) For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Smith's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.