Mary Daleen Smith, 86

Mary Daleen Enos Smith, 86, passed away Sept. 18, 2024. She was born to Dale Mathew and Victoria America Blevins Enos at St. Ignatius Hospital in Colfax, Wash., on Aug. 24, 1938. She was the youngest of three children and was raised on the family wheat farm. At age 10, she began to think of things eternal. At First Baptist Church in Colfax, Mary learned about the eternal God and believed Christ died for her sins. Peace came to her heart, for she knew she had eternal life and a new life of faith here on Earth.

Mary studied nursing at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., and graduated in 1961. After graduation, she moved to Southern California. In 1965, Mary obtained a Master of Religious Education from Fuller Seminary and worked in church administration for a year. Following that time, she taught nursing at Queen of Angels Hospital, L.A. County General Hospital and College of the Canyons in Valencia. In 1976, she earned her master's in community health nursing at U.C.L.A. Mary traveled extensively around the United States, Europe and the Middle East during this time. She also regularly visited her family in Washington and hosted each of her nieces and nephews for a fantastic California adventure, which each remembers fondly.

In 1983, Mary met Bill Smith at a Christmas party. Their common backgrounds, work ethics and Christian beliefs brought them together in marriage Dec. 21, 1985. She was blessed to gain two daughters and a son from her marriage to Bill. They lived in Santa Clarita, Calif., until retirement in 2002 when they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They had many adventures together throughout their marriage. Mary cared for Bill later in life until he passed away in 2022. 

In Coeur d’Alene, Mary was a member of the Republican Women’s Organization, frequently wrote Letters to the Editor for the Coeur d’Alene Press and was actively involved in church life. She hosted family and friends at her home on many occasions and loved to encourage others to play games and sing songs together. She had a natural light and presence that drew many people to her.

Mary is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Ruth Enos in Colfax, Wash., and three stepchildren and their families: Crystal Weiss in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Troy Smith in Barstow, Calif., and Lori Darling in Highland, Calif. She is also survived by two nephews, Bryan Enos in Hayden, Idaho, and David Enos in Colfax, Wash.; and four nieces: Christine Stierwalt in Post Falls, Idaho; Lili Hare in Spokane, Wash.; Beth Davidson in Hamilton, Mont.; and Rebekah Henckel in Walla Walla, Wash.; as well as numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

The family would like to thank Mary’s Candlelight Church family. The family would also like to extend a special thanks to Suzie Russell, Marna Bateman, Janet Alvis and her Candlelight life group for their loving care of Mary and their friendship in her final months.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Candlelight Christian Fellowship, 5725 N. Pioneer Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Candlelight Christian Fellowship (www.candlelight.org).

Please visit Mary’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.