OBITUARIES

Mary Emily King Smith; Sarah J. Svane of Harleysville.

Mary Emily King Smith, known as M’em, died February 3, 2018, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, less than two months before her 105th birthday. She was born, the oldest of five children, on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomson and Katharine Duckett King.

In 1930 she graduated from high school with honors and entered Randolph-Macon Woman’s College that fall. After her sophomore year she transferred to Goucher College in Baltimore, but had to drop out when she became ill with pleurisy in January 1933. After attending StrayerBryant-Stratton Business College for a year, she worked as a secretary at John’s Hopkins University and Maryland Casualty Company.

In 1943, she married Lewis Conrad Smith, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Upon Lewis’ return in 1946 from serving in India during WWII, the couple moved to Iowa City where he received his Ph.D. degree in English, and their son, Lewis (known as Rad) and daughter, Emily, were born. In 1949, Lewis secured a job in the English Department at St. Cloud State College. While raising their three children in Minnesota (a third child, Rebecca, was born there) M’em worked for World Book as sales representative, Area Manager and finally District Manager. In 1967 she quit her job as salesperson covering 18 counties for Scholastic Magazines to attend college full time. In 1968 she graduated from St. Cloud State with honors. That fall, when they moved to Cortland, New York, at the age of 55 she began a new career as librarian to three elementary schools.

Those who knew M’em can attest to her abundance of energy, love of social engagement, and zest for travel. Throughout the years, she belonged to many organizations, including the Ladies Literary Club in Cortland and various bridge clubs in St. Cloud, Cortland, and Lansdale. Her athleticism was evident throughout her life, from playing basketball in high school, ice dancing in her 20s, to skating, cross country skiing, tennis and golf as an adult, and body surfing in her 70s. At every home she and Lewis lived, M’em maintained beautiful gardens. A lifelong Episcopalian, she was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Grace Church in Cortland, New York, and Church of the Messiah Church in Gwynedd, Pennsylvania.

M’em traveled throughout Europe before her marriage and numerous times after, including during Lewis’ two sabbaticals. She also made trips to New Zealand, Mexico, China, Japan and Turkey. While raising their three children, the family took vacations across the United States in their trailer, visiting national parks and world fairs.

M’em is survived by her daughters, Emily Smith of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and Rebecca Smith of Bayside, New York, four grandchildren, Alexandra and Jordan Smith and Tyler and Derek Gumb. Her son, Rad, died in 1998. One sibling, Margaret Warner, and 12 nieces and nephews also survive. Her husband, Lewis, of 61 years, died in 2004.