Early Works In Progress worker dies

topic : FBI

Marie Crystiana Smith, a former WIPworker passed away peacefully of natural causes September 8 in Lacey.

She was born in Bemidji MN to Daniel and Emma (Hendrickson) Schulz April 10, 1916. A graduate of St Cloud Teachers' College, she taught in rural one-room schools before moving to the West Coast during WWII.

In Seattle she met Vernon Smith, a merchant marine who was part of the war effort to supply ships in the Pacific Theater. They married December 1, 1944 and settled in West Seattle to begin their family.

During the McCarthy era they were forced to relocate to Orting, then a small isolated community. FBI agents followed, but were unable to convince local Puget Power and Light management that Marie and Verns's ideological beliefs were a threat to national security with Vern working at one of their hydroelectrical plants. They remained in Orting for the rest of their working careers, Marie employed at the Orting School District as a teacher and later as a librarian.

They moved to the Olympia area in 1979 and enjoyed typical retirement activities: gardening, and playing cards with friends and family. Shortly after Vernon's death, Marie became a part of Jesse Jackson's 1988 campaign and was a delegate at the County Convention. As a member of the local Rainbow Coalition, she began participating on WIP in 1990, editing, writing occasional articles, maintaining the subscription database, and baking many batches of cookies.

She is survivied by three daughters, and two grandsons.

A festive gathering of friends and family will be held October 7 at her home.