Iris Hellewell Smith

Iris Hellewell Smith, beloved daughter of William and Lola Hellewell, was born in 1929 in Binghamton, NY, and spent her childhood years in Ithaca, NY. After graduation from Ithaca High School, she attended and graduated from the New York State University at Binghamton, and began her working career as a medical lab technician at Thompkins County Memorial Hospital.

She met Don Smith on a blind date on her 21st birthday. They dated on and off for four years because it took her that long to refine this wild farm boy to the point where he was marriageable. They started their married life in 1954 on the Empire Turkey Farm in Genoa, NY, in an 8' x 40' trailer in the middle of a field, chasing turkeys off the roof each morning. It was here that they started their family with the birth of their son Jeff in 1955. Gary came along 2 years later in 1957, and "the twins", Scott & Sharon, were born in 1959.

In 1961, they relocated to the Winnecunnet Turkey Farm in Norton, Massachusetts. It is here that their fifth child Debbie was born, and where they would remain and raise their family for the next 26 years. Once all of her children were in school, Iris took a job as a bookkeeper for the Norton School System, where she worked for 20 years.

Acting on a referral from a family friend, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints called on the family in 1969. All seven were baptized in December of that year. In 1970, just one year after joining the church, the family was called on a two-year stake mission to the New Bedford Branch in Massachusetts. In 1973, the family was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Iris and Don would go on another mission to the Mocksville, NC Branch in 1990. They would then go on to serve a third mission as ordinance workers at the Washington DC Temple in 2002 and 2003. Iris loved her membership in the church and served in many callings and organizations throughout the years.

Iris and Don retired in 1987 and moved to Clemmons, NC. They lived there for 17 years before moving to Franklin, NC, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in 2004. As health concerns increased, she and Don moved in with Debbie and Norman Brodeur in Cumming, GA in 2010, where they have resided until her death on November 30th.

Iris leaves behind many lifelong friends, her beloved husband Don, five children, 19 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren with 3 more arriving soon. She will be remembered for her unfailing kindness, and unconditional love toward all she encountered in this life.

Condolences may be expressed on-line at www.mcdonaldandson.com.