Gwen Y. Smith

Published 10:24 am Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Gwen Smith, 90, went home to our Lord on Monday, May 27, 2013.

Gwen was a beautiful woman with a sparkling personality. She was born to Joe and Vivian Young in Selma, and lived here with them, along with her sister Eloise and brother Harold until her marriage in 1943. Gwen returned regularly to Selma throughout her life. Her background here gave a texture to her personality, together with a refined southern accent that brought people to her side wherever in the world she went. She loved to travel, favoring long cruises with her sister, Eloise. Gwen was a real estate broker and was top in sales of new houses in California before moving to Florida. She was a great organizer, and president of many associations in her lifetime.

She leaves behind her sister, Eloise Gradin; four children, Sandy (Melody) Jamieson (c.Abigail, Paul, Ben Jamieson), Stacey (David) Crockett, Bill (Susan) Bollwerk (c. Will Bollwerk, Cristina Bollwerk), Jesse Bowman, and nieces Vivian Gradin Fink, Karin Gradin Stewart, Peggy Jo Young Brown, and Sally Young Olidas. Gwen will be remembered for her integrity, grace, humor, intelligence, and warmth. She will be missed.

A Memorial Service was held in Pensacola, FL in May, but Gwen always said she wanted to have a New Orleans-style cemetery service in Selma with a Dixieland Band. Her family is pleased to announce that Selma’s own “Riverfront Ramblers” will be providing music for this occasion to be held at 11am on Friday, October 4th 2013 in the New Live Oaks Cemetery. Her cremated remains will be buried there in the Young Family Plot.

Any and all friends are asked to join the family in this celebration and farewell. “Mourners” (and this includes anyone who likes good music and who appreciates this sort of “goings-on”) are encouraged to bring parasols, colorful scarves, dancing shoes and join in!

Please contact Sandy Jamieson (907-590-0798) Alaska or Vivian Fink (830-741-0635) Texas for details.