Gayle died on
September 23, 2007. She
had been living in Louisville, KY. Unfortunately,
no further information about her has been found
for our website.
Final Memorial
Service for Annie "Smitty" Smith and Dedication of her
Home
Report from Martha
Reardon Bewick
John, Diane Churchill
and I drove up to the Lake Keuka Memorial Service for
Annie Smith. As you can well imagine, it was a lovely
and touching occasion, with about 75 friends of Annie's,
from various of her worlds. We met Lynette Porteous,
who has spent a good deal of time with Annie's closest
friend Joan, sorting, keeping and disposing of Annie's
papers and things. She and Annie were early roommates
in San Francisco, and Lynette spent 10 days with Annie
at Lake Keuka shortly before Annie passed away.
As we waited at Annie's house on the lake, a ferry came
up to her front lawn, the Viking Spirit, and we boarded
over the bow. There was a tour
of the lake for about an hour, and then the ferry
stopped in front of her home, and her ashes were
scattered in the water, as she had wished. Lynette,
Diane and I hummed some soft tunes as the ashes were
scattered...the river is wide....speed bonnie boat....
When we returned to shore, there was a ceremony where
friends were offered a chance to reminisce about Annie.
Perhaps the most touching was a neighbor who was walking
towards Annie's home a couple of weeks ago, as I
remember, with his 3-year-old son. As they approached
the house, his son said "she's waving at us." His
father asked who was waving. The son said "the lady who
swims." And then, "She's still waving." He saw the
waving in the kitchen window. And so, seeing no-one,
the father waved too and said "Hello Annie." So her
presence is still very much there, where she left her
heart. Lynette and Diane both participated in the
speaking, and shared both funny and fond reflections.
This closed when her close friend from Calgary (everyone
was a close friend) played a song on her
harmonica...lovely.
At this point, a ribbon was cut, and the deed of Annie's
home was given to the Penn Yan Arts Council, where they
will have classes and workshops into the future.
The center will be called Annie's Place at Sunny Point.
Memorials
.jpg)
John, Diane Churchill
and I drove up to the Lake Keuka Memorial Service for
Annie Smith. As you can well imagine, it was a lovely
and touching occasion, with about 75 friends of Annie's,
from various of her worlds. We met Lynette Porteous,
who has spent a good deal of time with Annie's closest
friend Joan, sorting, keeping and disposing of Annie's
papers and things. She and Annie were early roommates
in San Francisco, and Lynette spent 10 days with Annie
at Lake Keuka shortly before Annie passed away.
When we returned to shore, there was a ceremony where
friends were offered a chance to reminisce about Annie.
Perhaps the most touching was a neighbor who was walking
towards Annie's home a couple of weeks ago, as I
remember, with his 3-year-old son. As they approached
the house, his son said "she's waving at us." His
father asked who was waving. The son said "the lady who
swims." And then, "She's still waving." He saw the
waving in the kitchen window. And so, seeing no-one,
the father waved too and said "Hello Annie." So her
presence is still very much there, where she left her
heart. Lynette and Diane both participated in the
speaking, and shared both funny and fond reflections.
This closed when her close friend from Calgary (everyone
was a close friend) played a song on her
harmonica...lovely.