Ladawn Smith

passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at The University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. She was 66 years of age.In 1949, a little girl entered this world, destined to change the life of all who knew her. LaDawn Brown was born on Feb 8, 1949 in Logan, Utah to Earl Clifton Brown and Lucile Billington. She was the third of five children. Her father was in the military and her early life was full of travel, arts and crafts and enriching experiences both at home as well as abroad. She lived in Nevada, Florida, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, Germany, Idaho, Maryland, and California, all before turning 18 and leaving home for college.As a young girl, she took piano and dance lessons and was active in the girl scouts as well as the churches primary home builder program. With a move to Germany, came extensive travel of Europe, which included the opportunity to do baptisms for the dead in the Bern, Switzerland Temple. Wherever she traveled LaDawn developed lifelong friendships. It was in Germany where the love for travel caught up to her and never let go. After 3 years in Germany she returned to the United States and continued her activities in church and school and was especially interested in home economics and joined the school's Future Homemakers of America club in which she served as secretary and then the following year president.Her love for travel continued throughout her life, including trips as a teenager to South Carolina with friends; a week in upstate New York camping, and visiting the Hill Cumorah pageant; a trip with the Mia-Maid class to New York City; a month long trip into the New England states; a jet ride home from Boston, and a fast train trip to the World Fair with her sister, Pat. Since then she has visited every state in the US as well as Canada, Mexico, much of South America and more than twenty countries in Europe. These blended uniquely to produce a vibrant and stimulating effect upon a personality already rich in warmth, understanding and love.LaDawn graduated from high school in 1967 and was off to BYU for summer school and new adventures. And those new adventures came quickly�during her first semester at college she met Lynn Hill Smith, a young cowboy from Cedar Fort, Utah. He swept her off her feet and at the semester break took her to the Salt Lake City Temple where they were sealed for time and all eternity on January 26, 1968. While Lynn continued his education at BYU, LaDawn began her career in motherhood. She would often say that while Lynn received his Bachelor's degree at BYU, she received her MRS degree. Catrina and Andrea were born in Provo Utah. In 1972, the family moved to Livermore, CA for Lynn's work where LaDawn gave birth to 4 more children including a set of twin girls�Lynn, Jennifer, Kelly & Kim.1977 brought a move to West Jordan, Utah and 1979 saw the birth of a final daughter, Kari Dawn. Her love for her children knows no bounds. Many are the nights she has sat with a sick child giving comfort and aid. And just as many are the nights she stayed up until a teenager returned home to give an attentive ear to the experiences of growing up. In 1988 the family moved to St Marys, GA where the family spent five years making dear friends and special memories. In 1993, the family moved to Bremerton, WA where they resided for the past 23 years. The year they moved to Bremerton brought a promotion for LaDawn from Mother to Grandmother. A promotion that thrilled her! Over the intervening years, 23 more Grandchildren were brought into her life. Her love and warmth has filled the heart of each child and grandchild and wrapped them in a blanket of joy and tenderness.She imparted her wisdom quietly and most often by example. Her tenure as District PTA president and delegate to the State and National PTA conventions showed the confidence others had in her abilities. Her desires were only to please, comfort and care for those she loves. This was especially evident in the callings she held in the church: VT, Stake and ward RS president, Primary President, YW President, Temple Ordinance worker and RS teacher to name just a few. Her husband, children and grandchildren are the recipients of her love and her talents. Her home is decorated with her own art and her crafts brighten each room. Her tongue was always kind and gentle and knew no profanity. LaDawn received a tremendous endowment from both her Heavenly Mother and her earthly mother and willing shared the richness of her spirit and testimony with those around her. Her love for the Lord was a guiding light for all to follow.She was no stranger to pain and illness and very few outside her immediate family knew the extent of her suffering. Although her illness was at times almost more than she could bear, she was ever grateful, faithful and steadfast in her confidence in the Atonement of her Savior. To her husband she is beautiful and inspiring; to her children she is everything a mother can be; to her grandchildren she brought joy with each visit or telephone call and a friend to all who would invite her into their heart. LaDawn passed quietly into the presence of her loving mother and father, and extended family on Sunday, January 31st, 2016 following a month long battle with leukemia. Her legacy will be a foundation of absolute confidence in the love of her Heavenly Parents and her Savior which she will pass to her posterity and to all who are willing to receive!! She is survived by her husband, Lynn Smith; her children and their spouses�Catrina and Ken Jensen and their children Kelsi and her husband Dallin Pope, Austin, Collin, and Kara; Andrea and Greg Lewis and their children Duncan and Allison-Dawn; Lynn Jr. and Keri Smith and their children Tyler, Cade, Nathan and Jace; Jennifer and Brad Lortsher and their children Nicholas, Jacob, Emily and Kaylee; Kelly and Reed Ehinger and their children Kelby, Garrett, Carson, Grace and Grant; Kimberly and Tom Miklas; and Kari Dawn and Ryan Edmunds and their children Dallyn, Smith, Lars, Soren and LucilleFamily and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 1 to 2:30 PM followed by the Funeral service at 3 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -Mullenix building in Port Orchard, Washington. Interment will take place in Lehi, Utah in Lehi Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.