Condolence: Thinking of you Georgie....hugs and prayers.

Condolence: Renee K. Smith Renee told me, “I want to go to Knight’s 8th grade graduation. You know Wynter is a real athlete. Charles is a real good Dad. He really loves those girls of his. I didn’t realize what a leader Georgie was in our local farm to market food industry. Listen to her speak. Can’t wait to see Charlie and Tracey and of course Harry. Harry’s in China right now with his mother, but they are all coming soon. Charlie taught himself to speak Japanese in addition to his fluent Chinese and he works in a building in Washington DC. Bill is so good to me. He never complains and sometimes it takes two to four hours to wrap my legs. I want him to be able to go sailing more. Randy and I took a road trip to see Aunt Marliss (two summers ago) and it was so much fun. We cousins had so much fun when we were little playing together. Can you believe all the donations people have made to help fund the rebuilding of the barn? Thank You for coming to see me, Sara, and come anytime.” Renee was such a dear friend. We raised our children together and had so many wonderful adventures especially a joint family sailing trip to Alaska and cross country skiing trips in the Methow Valley. Our boys were just a year apart and Wilbur spent endless summer days digging holes in the sandbox with Charlie and sleeping in the tent with dog Pouchie. When it was time to come in the house she hosed them off. Daughter Gracie remembers making snake cookies and Renee giving her a special book, “Rock Is My Home”. She had friendships like ours with many dear friends and my oh my how she will be missed by her friends and family. Not only did Renee and I love teaching together and talking about teaching strategies and concepts, we loved talking about politics. She and I both wanted single payer health care, and policies that empowered all of our people. She was deeply concerned by the tone of our politics. She was a history buff and for example had read all four volumes of the Lyndon Johnson biographies. She knew what hate, fear, selfishness, dishonesty, discrimination and exclusion could do to a democracy and its citizens. She worked hard with students in our Coupeville School’s History Day program. Both of her children made it to the National History Day events in Washington DC. She deeply loved living in the middle of Ebey Prairie in her very historical farm home and was custodian of Rebecca Ebey’s original diary. She and her family experienced the beginning and development of the National Historical Ebey Reserve right in front of their eyes. She was an expert on the Reserve. What a joy it was to her and Bill to see their part of the reserve being used to grow food naturally. She believed in being an inclusive citizen of the world. She hosted several exchange students and teachers and loved to travel when she could. She was an avid bird watcher- an activity she shared with another dear friend. She loved to sail with Bill and circumnavigated Vancouver Island many times She put a high priority on cleaning up our planet for the protection of all living creatures. Renee was a person who always thought critically about the “why” of everything. Way back when she questioned traditional feminine activities. She told me,”Ironing is such a waste of time.” She threw out her iron. Who needs to iron? Indeed!

Condolence: Renee long ago figured out what was important...family, friends, the prairie, adventure, education, and being yourself. She encouraged, supported, and challenged Georgie and Charlie; she got what it meant to be a mom. As an Oak Harbor teacher she was innovative and uncompromising in what she knew was best for students; she got what it meant to be an educator. Laughing, storytelling, and playing Trivial Pursuit made for great Friday evening fun; she got what it meant to be a friend. Each of us cherish and treasure Renee; she got what is important.