Marie Berna Smith
Marie Berna Smith passed away January 9th, 2018 in Porterville, California. Marie was born April 4, 1930 to Larry and Zona (West) Berna in Garland Arkansas. She was 87 years old.
Marie’s mother was a seamstress and her father was a laborer. She went to school in Lindsay, California and later to College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California for two years. While in Tulare County, she married Doyle Raymond Thompson and they later moved to Salinas in Monterey County. There they had two sons, Doyle Raymond Jr. and Fred Louis. Marie and Doyle were married for 10 years before Doyle was in a fatal industrial accident. After his death, she and her sons relocated to Lindsay and lived on their 5-acre ranch. A few years later, she married a second time and they had one child, a girl, Mary Lou and later divorced. In 1971, she married a third time to Emmitt Eugene (Gene) Smith who had been married before and had two adult children, Pamela and Robert. Their marriage lasted over 40 years until Gene’s passing in August of 2011.
Marie worked as a full charge bookkeeper for Sunkist for 21 years. Her grandchildren remember driving by her office which was located on the corner of Olive Avenue and E Street. They would honk and wave and always knew grandma Marie was in there working. Grandma Marie’s house was best known for her famous Christmas gatherings. Grandpa Gene would barbecue pork chops and Grandma Marie would make green eggs. The whole family got together to celebrate at least one time a year, their house was always open for extended family members too. The grandkids would often laugh when a younger person got to sit at the adult table because that was normally reserved for adults only. Everyone has such great memories of Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
Marie also spent most of her adult life researching her heritage and that of her family members. Genealogy was a big part of her life. She made genealogy books for her children and other family members. She spent countless hours writing letters and researching well before computers and fax machines ever came in.
Marie is survived by her 3 children, Doyle (Lisa) Thompson, Fred Thompson, Mary Lou Kerr; two step children, Bobby (Nadine) Smith, and Pamela (Guy) Hannum; 12 grandchildren, Trina (Dave) Davis, Doyle (April) Thompson Jr., Brandi (Lance) Guinn, Katie (Mckenna) Carver, Sadie (Bobby) Grimes Jacob Thompson, Rebekah Thompson, Rusty (Rosa) Jones, Russel Cox, Vaughn (Jeanette) Cain, Lori (Mike) Healy and Austin (Heather) Smith and 16 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Addison Rani Guinn her great granddaughter. Marie was so giving and kind, she loved her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held at Myers Chapel on Thursday, January 18th, 2018 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Graveside service will be held at Vandalia Cemetery on Friday, January 19th, 2018 at 10:00 AM. A Celebration of life will be held immediately following at the Eagles Lodge in Porterville.
She will always be remembered by her signature words, “Oceans of Love”.
To sign the family guest book or send condolences please go to www.myersfuneral.com.
Myers Funeral Service & Crematory in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.