Zina Elmina Smith peacefully passed away at her home in Sandy on Sunday, February 22, 2009. She was 91.
Zina, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, was born in Hoytsville, Utah on December 16, 1917 to Sylvester and Etta (Brooks) Coffman. She was the youngest of four children. Her three brothers preceded her in death.
After graduating in 1936 from Springville High School in Utah Zina attended nursing school at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City and graduated in 1942.
In 1943, Zina joined the US Navy as a Navy Nurse. She served at Mare Island, Fleet Hospital and in Sumar, Phillipines. Zina was honorably discharged in March of 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant JG.
After her discharge Zina returned to California, where she met August Paul Smith. She and Paul were married on October 23rd, 1948 in Reno, Nevada. Zina, August and their four children settled in Sandy, Oregon in 1964. After nearly 54 years of marriage, August preceded her in death on October 9, 2002.
Zina was a homemaker until she returned to nursing in the Portland area, working at Providence Hospital, and then at Gresham Community Hospital, where she worked for 20 years until her retirement.
Zina was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was an avid sewer, quilter, weaver, gardener and reader. She loved horseback trail rides and the outdoors. She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by many.
Zina is survived by her four children Susan, Linda, Kenneth and Barbara; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.