Viva (Blakeley) SMITH

TORRINGTON, WYO..... Funeral services for VIVA LOU 'Vi' (BLAKELEY) SMITH, 78, will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at the United Methodist Church with Reverend Ora Dailey officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. 'Vi' died on May 17, 2006 at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel on Monday from 10am to 7pm and the casket will be open prior to the service at the church. Those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the Torrington Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com Viva Lou was born on June 12, 1927 in Crab Orchard, Nebraska the daughter of Charles Edison and Ila Mae (Smidt) Blakeley. She moved with her family to Tecumseh, Nebraska in 1932 and in May of 1938 the family moved to Torrington, Wyoming. 'Vi' received her education in Torrington and while attending high school, she met Kenneth Lee Smith and the couple married on February 27, 1944. 'Vi' graduated from Torrington High School with honors in 1945. In 1949 she and Kenny purchased an acreage to build their home and she has resided there since. 'Vi' worked as a bookkeeper at Standard Hardware, a teller at First National Bank, scale lady and bookkeeper at Brown Bean Company, and she worked with Olaf Blunsom during tax season, and served as office assistant during campaign at Holly Sugar. Kenny and 'Vi' established Smitty's Repair Service in April of 1955 and she became the full time bookkeeper in the late 1960's. 'Vi' was baptized and became a member of the United Methodist Church more than 60 years ago. While a member of the church, she served as the financial secretary and as treasurer. She was active on the church council, taught Sunday School, helped sponsor traveling youth camps, sang in the church choir, and she played bells with the 'Joyful Ringers'. 'Vi' was also a 4-H leader for the Gleaner's Union 4-H Club. She thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, gardening, and traveling with family and friends throughout the states and abroad. She is survived by two daughters, Janis Elaine Collins of Torrington, Wyoming, and Kathryn Lee Mehling and her husband Gary of Lyman, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Greg Collins and Dr. Meghan Collins both of Torrington, Wyoming; and Kelly Mehling and his wife Jamie of Lyman, Nebraska; and Jamie Rasnake and her husband Tim of Wheatland, Wyoming; a brother Eldon Blakeley of Greeley, Colorado; and three sisters, Darlene Brooks and her husband Warren of Torrington, Wyoming, Joyce Lang of Ft. Collins, Colorado; and LaVonne Daiss of Lingle, Wyoming. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant brother, Donald; a sister-in-law Shirley Blakeley, brother-in-law Dean Daiss, and son-in-law Dave Collins.

Viva (Blakeley) SMITH

June 12, 1927 - May 17, 2006