Elizabeth Snare Smith, age 87, u-pick farmer, retired educator and home economist, passed away peacefully at her home in Gillsville , Georgia on Monday, April 9, 2012. Born July 31, 1924 to Mary Leila Langford Snare and Marion Lee Snare, she graduated in 1943 from Airline High School in Hall County , Georgia and in 1947 received a B.S. in Home Economics from Berry College in Rome, Georgia .
After World War II, Alabama Power Company hired her as a home economist-her job was to visit customers' homes and demonstrate their newly installed appliances. One such customer in Winfield , Alabama introduced her to his son, Walter David Smith, Jr., who on July 15, 1953 became her husband. Residing in Haleyville , Alabama , they raised two sons, Scott born in 1955 and David born in 1957.
For 15 years she taught chemistry, then home economics at Haleyville High School . In 1975, she returned home to Gillsville to help care for her aged mother, but continued teaching, serving for many years as Sunday School superintendent at Lebanon United Methodist Church . She put her love of gardening to work running, with "Smitty," a plant nursery and u-pick berry farm, "The Country Place." A fan of the fig because dishes including it require less added sugar, she published a cookbook featuring dessert recipes for Georgia fruits.
After her oldest son, Scott, passed away in 1990 and her husband died in 1991, she continued to maintain her extensive blackberry and scuppernong vines as well has her fig bushes, and continued to share them with the u-pick public.
She is survived by her son, David Langford Smith (Mary Irene Dickerson) of Decatur, Georgia; granddaughters Claire Cowan Smith and Sally Elizabeth Smith of Decatur, Georgia; brother, Scott Lee Snare of Gillsville, Georgia; nephews, Donald Allen Snare of Gainesville, Georgia, Daniel Marion Snare of Athens, Alabama, Derrell Lee Snare (Vicky) of Willis, Virginia; nieces Joanne Snare LaCourse (David) of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, Anne Snare Bridges (Phil) of Marietta, Georgia; many Langford and Snare cousins including Annie Lucille Moore Filler of Sacramento, California, Helen Wooten Moore Dahlenburg of Danville, Illinois, Doris Louise Jones Chandler of Hall County, Georgia; grand-nieces, Elizabeth Grace Bridges, Heather Snare Prokopchak, Melissa Snare Rogers; grand-nephews, Kenneth Haywood Snare, Matthew Lee Snare, Kevin Rogers Snare, Bryan Robert Snare; and sister-in-law Katheryn Smith Brumbeloe of Hartselle, Alabama. Preceding her in death were husband Walter David Smith, Jr.; son, Scott Lawrenson Smith; brother John Lee Snare; many cousins including Mildred Jones King, Lois Irene Jones Morris, Chester Ray Jones, and David Allen Jones.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14 at 11 am at Lebanon United Methodist Church , 3664 Lebanon Church Road, Gillsville , Georgia , with a reception afterwards. Visitation with family is welcomed Friday, April 13, 5-8 pm at the Snare Family Pavilion, at 3864 Gillsville Hwy, Gillsville Georgia . Memorial donation suggestions include The United Methodist Children's Home of the North Georgia Conference, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur , Georgia 30030 and Lebanon United Methodist Church , 3664 Lebanon Church Road, Gillsville , Georgia 30543.
Online condolences may be made online at wardsfh.com. Ward's Funeral Home 758 Main Street S.W. Gainesville, GA in charge of arrangements.
