Obituary: Virginia C. (Miller) Smith; Had Large Vegetable and Flower Gardens, and Kept Chickens

Obituary from Mackey Funeral Home.

Virginia C. (Miller) Smith, 97, beloved wife of the late Arnold E. Smith, died April 1, 2015, at Hunt Nursing Home in Danvers, after a very long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Ginny” was the daughter of Dr. Lewis C. Miller and Alice C. (Hitchins) Miller. She was born and lived in Peabody, and attended school there.

Soon after her marriage in January of 1940, Ginny began her family of five children. While raising her family, she created a large productive vegetable garden, kept chickens and tended a beautiful flower garden. She loved hiking outdoors and deeply appreciated all of nature’s great creations. Cooking came naturally to her and her heavenly-scented apples-mounded-high pie was out of this world.

Later in life she often hosted her entire extended family at a rental farmhouse in Effingham, NH, which her family realized was an incredible gift. In turn, her family helped care for her as her Alzheimer’s disease progressed.

Ginny is survived by her five children: daughter, Marilyn and husband William Lee and family, son Randy Smith and his wife Roberta and family, son Charlie Smith and his wife Elaine and family, daughter Carla and her husband William Drown and family, and Douglas Smith and his wife Chrissie and family. Ginny is also survived by many great and great-great grandchildren and was predeceased by her brother William Miller and wife Audrey.

Only a private celebration of her life for the immediate family will take place at a later date.