Obituary of Adele Gudger Smith

She was born Dorothy Adele Norin on January 29, 1928, in Aberdeen, Washington. She passed away on March 9, 2018 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Lacey at the age of 90. Adele leaves many loving family members, including children and spouses, Nancy Raiha (Glenn), Scot Gudger (Anne), and Susan Biggs (Jack Will); bonus daughters and spouses, Allena Sanders (John), Narda Jimenez (Jim), and Amanda Stone Elliott (Ken); grandchildren, Heidi, Casey, Max, Jake, Maria, Jonathon, Rachel, Roberta, Julia, and Cole; many great-grandchildren; and Tate, her beloved cat. She was predeceased by son, Ed Gudger; husbands, Jack Gudger and Lennard Smith; mother, Dorothy Kramer; father, Per Sig Norin; and sister, Anne Cook. Adele lived an adventurous and faith-filled life. She loved hiking, dancing and traveling. She created beautiful art and had an amazing green thumb, planting huge gardens and even raising rhododendrons from seed. Adele raised an active and creative family, and she loved serving the Lord. She graduated from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, attended Grays Harbor Community College, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Art from Central Washington State University. She worked in banking as a young woman, and later was employed by the Grays Harbor Community Mental Health Center, Mary M. Knight School District, the Evergreen State College, and Mason General Hospital. She was a member of many churches, including Hoquiam United Methodist, Westwood Baptist, Shelton Baptist, First United Methodist of Olympia, and attended Panorama Chapel. She was a long-time member of the Olympians Hiking Club, a 4-H club leader, a Master Gardener, and an active participant in the Harbor Haylofters and Salty Sashayers Square Dance clubs. Adele had a smile that lit up her face. She remained positive and appreciative in spite of difficult times. With her huge and open heart, Adele was always ready to reach out to others. She often had a song in her heart, and she especially loved the music of her children and grandchildren. In her later years, the word everyone used to describe her was “sweet”… a sweetness that shined, that lit up the world! Please leave memories of Adele or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.