Carol Jon Smith

Carol Jon (McCabe) Smith, 79, passed away on May 28, 2024, peacefully at her home in Packwood, WA.

Carol was born July 14, 1944, in Longview to Jerry and Bonnie McCabe. Carol was an only child, but the light in the eyes of her grandparents Jack and Gladys Porter, and Aunt Sissy.

From Longview, Carol’s family moved to Hermiston and Klamath Falls before arriving in East Lewis County, where Carol finished high school. Carol graduated from White Pass High School in 1962. The same year, she met Bruce Smith and a year later they married. They had 3 sons together: David, Timothy, and Daniel. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before Bruce lost his battle with cancer in 2023.

Carol loved her family, the arts, traveling, and her community. Carol loved finding beauty in everyday things, and enjoying the moment she was in. She was active with Dave’s Boy Scout troop, and the neighborhood second mom to any of the local kids who needed a place to hang out or a plate of food to eat. The door was always open. She focused on providing her sons with life experiences and memories: exploring the local wilderness, hiking, camping at Takhlakh Lake, and community events.  Carol frequently spoke of visiting her mother and stepfather in Samoa, and trips to Hawaii.

Carol was a member of the “Friends of Packwood Timberland Library” and took pride in an avenue to help her community have access to library services. Reading and learning more about the world were invaluable to her. In that same spirit, Carol was involved with the start of the White Pass Country Museum.

Carol was an award-winning photographer. Photography was her life’s passion. She had her work shown at multiple galleries throughout Washington. She was often at local art and craft shows with her work on display. She was involved with teaching photography in Packwood for a time. Her enjoyment of the beauty of life extended out her backdoor and into her garden, a frequent subject of her photographs. Due to health issues, she had lost some of her photographic eye, but that did not stop the creativeness within her. She began weaving baskets, and when she honed her skills, she taught basket weaving to others. She painted, crocheted, knitted, and attempted to master any craft that intrigued her.

On top of her commitment to her family, and pursuing her passions, Carol also worked for Pacific Lumber Sales as pilot car driver, fire watch, and vehicle transporter. She also worked at Blanton’s Market in Packwood, before she and Bruce purchased their own logging truck in 1990. She managed and did the bookkeeping for the Bruce Smith Trucking, which they ran together for 30 years until Bruce’s retirement.

Carol is proceeded in death by her grandparents John (Jack) and Gladys Porter, mother Bonnie Noel, stepfather Donald Noel, aunt Gilda (Sissy) Etienne, uncle Bud Porter, and husband Bruce Smith.

She is survived by her sons: Dave (Corinne) Smith of Packwood, Tim Smith of Centralia, Dan Smith of Yakima, grandchildren: Riley (Lainie) Smith of Southview, PA, Ricky Pulley of Tacoma, Kristin (Tony) Harper of Yelm, Alex (Chantz) Christiansen of Shelton, Amanda (Garrett) McDaniel of Napavine, Paige (Shaun) Pelletier of Glenoma, and 19 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held for Carol on June 22, 2024, 1:00pm at the Packwood Community Center. A potluck lunch will follow the service.

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