Marie Smith

Marie D Smith died Monday January 20 at her home in Tuckasegee at the age of 103. She was the daughter of the late Jesse G and Ollie Green Dills of Dillsboro and step mother, Gracie Dills. She is also preceded in death by her husband Fred C Smith of 42 years , daughter Shirley Smith Maxson, brothers Grady Dills, Jesse R Dills, Harold Ray Dills, and Claude Dills and a sisters, Pauline Dills and Juanita Greer. She grew up in the community of Cullowhee and is a graduate of Cullowhee High School and Western Carolina University with a Masters in Education and Adminstration. She taught school in Jackson County over 30 years with many of those years in the Glenville Cashiers and the Log Cabin School Districts. She was always meeting former students and and served several years as principal of the Log Cabin Elementary School. She loved working outside especially in her flowers. She enjoyed all type of flowers and was always looking for a new plant. After her retirement she enjoyed crafts, especially basket making, sewing and doing any craft with her hands. She enjoyed traveling and visiting with people. She is survived by a daughter, Peggy Wike of Tuckasegee, 2 grandsons William Bruce “Bill” Wike of Cary, North Carolina, Mark Wike of Tuckasegee, son-in-law Mike Maxson of Tuckasegee ; 4 great grandchildren, William Bruce III and Ashlynne Wike of Cary and Colby and Annalise Wike of Tuckasegee. She also survived by 3 sisters, Dorris Beck (Sam) of Sylva, Alma Shuford (Bob) of Barnardsville and Frankie Reynolds (Bennie) of Franklin. Grateful appreciation to Bonnie Queen, Reva Lewis, Hilda Barron and Marie Conner for their wonderful care of Marie. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 24th at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Rev. Jack Henson and Rev. Jeff Powell officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Marie to the Cullowhee High School Alumni Scholarship WCU Foundation 1 University Dr. HFR Building Room 201 Cullowhee NC 28723.