MARY CATHERINE SMITH

Mary Catherine Smith, 95, beloved wife, sister, stepmother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, in Loma Linda, CA. Born on May 6, 1930, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Julia Tierney Willet and William Willet, Mary lived a life of unwavering service, deep faith, and warm-hearted love for her family and community. A 1948 graduate of Reading High School in Cincinnati, Mary later answered a unique and courageous calling when she was appointed a policewoman for the Los Angeles Police Department in August of 1960. It was there that she met the love of her life, fellow officer Leroy Smith. They married on October 9, 1963, and with that union, Mary embraced her role as stepmother to four children—Martha, Linda, Steve, and Greg. She was known for her no-nonsense attitude, high expectations, and unwavering sense of right and wrong. But behind the firm exterior was a quick wit, a warm heart, and a sassiness that made everyone around her laugh. Following Leroy’s retirement from the LAPD in 1974, the couple moved to Bend, Oregon, where they built a home on the same land where Leroy’s parents lived. Their next chapter took them to Vista, CA, where they continued to build a life centered on love, family, and faith. A devoted member of the Lutheran Church, Mary served faithfully in every congregation she joined—singing joyfully in the choir and lovingly caring for babies in the church nursery. Her warmth and kindness touched everyone she met. She also enjoyed life’s simple pleasures, including expressing pride in her Irish roots and sharing a good glass of beer with family and friends. Those who knew and loved Mary knew one thing for sure: she never met a shade of blue she didn’t like. It made up nearly her entire wardrobe. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband Leroy Smith, siblings, William Willet and Judith Brady and her stepdaughter, Martha Atkeissen. Mary is survived by her three stepsiblings, Janice Banks, Joyce Lee and Robert Willet; her stepchildren and their spouses, Linda and Stu White, Gregory and Helen Smith, and Stephen and Kristine Smith; 8 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

MARY CATHERINE SMITH

May 6, 1930 - July 4, 2025