Mary Katharine Smith
Mary Katharine Smith passed away on Saturday, January 13th in Piedmont, California at 89 years old.
Mary, a native of Lompoc, California, was born on August 26, 1928; daughter of Bertha Mae (née Seaman) and Howard James Moore. As a girl, Mary worked in her family’s store, Moore’s Department Store.
Growing up in California, Mary was surrounded by family. Not far from where she lived with her parents and older brother, Mary’s aunt Lena (née Seaman) and uncle Wilhelm Baumgartner lived in Mendocino. After emigrating from Bavaria to the United States in the late 1890s, Wilhelm served as the first head lightkeeper at Point Cabrillo Light Station from 1909-1923. Mary traveled often with her family to Mendocino, and there gained a life-long fascination with the history and significance of lighthouses.
After high school, Mary attended Santa Barbara City College and Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California.
It wasn’t long before Mary met Daniel Smith, her brother’s friend and colleague at H.C. Capwell. On February 22, 1953, Mary and Daniel married and moved to Oakland. Soon after, they moved to Piedmont together where they raised a family and lived for over 60 years.
Mary was a member of the Piedmont Community Church for over 60 years, and an active and generous volunteer in her community. She served on the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and worked for years at the museum’s annual White Elephant Sale. Mary volunteered at the Children’s Hospital Oakland, and as a reading tutor for elementary school students.
Mary spent much of her free time traveling with her husband, children, and grandchildren. At age 84, Mary became a member of the Seven Continents Club while traveling to Antarctica with her granddaughter Laura in 2012.
Mary also enjoyed gardening and entertaining, and was a long-standing member of the Bellevue and Claremont Country Clubs.
Her family misses her warmth, sharp sense of humor, and ability to bring everyone together.
Mary is predeceased by her brother, James; husband, Daniel; and her son, Howard; and survived by her son, Hugh (Victoria); her sister-in-law and dear friend, Eleanor; her grandchildren: Jennifer, Lena, Emma, Katharine, and Laura; her six great-grandchildren; her niece Marilyn and nephew William (Monica); and many more cousins and loving friends.
Celebration of Mary’s life will be held Saturday, April 7 at 11am in Oakland. Please contact Hugh or Vicky at 510-658-5511 if you plan to attend. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mary Smith’s honor and memory to: The Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association PO Box 641 Mendocino, CA 95460