Obituary of Sabra M. Smith

Sabra M. Smith of Lakewood departed from us to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. She will be dearly missed by her children, relatives and friends. Mrs. Smith was born in Jamestown, the daughter and third child of Grace and Forrest Smith, and sister of three siblings - Margaret [Burns], Lloyd and Donald, all of whom predeceased her. Mrs. Smith graduated from Jamestown High School in 1934. She then attended Alfred University at its Jamestown campus. During her college and after, she worked for her uncle Floyd Smith at a bank services and supply company in Jamestown. In early 1940, a close friend, Helen Pihlblad [Smith] of Lakewood introduced her to Louis W. Smith, who at that time served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U. S. Army. Sabra and Lou were married in December 1941, shortly after Pearl Harbor. During World War II, Sabra worked near several of the Army bases. The positions included working for the North Carolina Department of Health, the Tennessee Treasury Department, and thereafter for the Social Security Administration in multiple locations while Lou was stationed in England. Most recently she was a dedicated sales representative for Shaklee Corporation. Following WWII, Sabra and Lou moved to Lakewood. In 1949 they relocated to Syracuse where Lou worked as a sales representative for Nichols Business Equipment. In 1953, they returned to Lakewood to build a house into which they moved in February of 1954. Sabra and Lou faithfully raised their three children through the 1960's and 70's challenging and supporting them to achieve college and graduate degrees. Lou preceded Sabra in death on December 16, 2000. The Smith family regularly attended the First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown, where Sabra was a member of the Esther Circle for over 50 years. Sabra was also an active member of the Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club and Lakewood Women's Club. She also liked to get her friends together to play bridge or to talk about things of interest at the time. She was able to do this because she was sincerely interested in other people as well as their ideas and experiences. She always tried to bring out the best in everyone. Sabra is survived by her children, Charlie of Lakewood, Scott and his wife Mary Jane Moreau of Boston, and Sally Nazar and her husband Rico Nazar M.D. of Endwell, NY, and her grandchildren Rick Nazar and Elizabeth [Nazar] Butler of San Diego, CA. Sabra will live on in the memories of all her family members and friends. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 29th in Bellinger Chapel of First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Thomas A. Sweet will officiate. Inurnment will be in Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received in Fellowship Hall of the church following the service. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750; First Presbyterian Church, 509 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown, NY 14701; or to the Lakewood Fire Dept., 37 Packard Way, Lakewood, NY 14750.