Phyllis M. Smith

BETHEL — Phyllis M. Smith, 98, of Bethel, died at her Vernon Street residence on Friday, July 26, 2013.

She was born in Turner, on July 24, 1915, the daughter of Olin Taylor and Pearl Hinds Taylor. Her father was a sawyer at a lumber mill, and her mother was the cook for the mill crew. Their daughter, Phyllis, was born in the lumber camp.

Phyllis was educated in Auburn schools and graduated from Webster School. She married Jason G. Smith Jr. of South Paris in Mechanic Falls on Sept. 23, 1933; Jason died Feb. 13, 1997, after 63 years of marriage.

Phyllis traveled to all of the continental United States and Canada. She was a past member of the Eleanor Gordon Guild at the Bethel United Methodist Church and had been a Cub Scout den mother, having her sons in her group. She helped her three sons learn to shoot, hunt and brook fish. She was famous for her homemade biscuits, and she did a lot of chores when they lived on a farm in New Gloucester and Leeds.

She is survived by a daughter, Phyllis Cross of Bethel; two sons, Gerald “Jeri” Smith of Fryeburg and Larry G. Smith Jr. of Bethel, with whom she lived; 12 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Edward Taylor of Greene; a sister, Joyce King of Greene; a cousin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jason; a son, Nelson O. Smith; two brothers, Owen Taylor and Sumner Taylor; three sisters, Arlene Johnson, Doris Langelier and Helen Chicoine; and her parents.

Visitation was held on Wednesday at the Bethel Alliance Church, where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Burial will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery, West Bethel. Arrangements by Cliff Gray Cremation & Funeral Services, 60 Andrews Road, Bryant Pond.