Vaughn Smith

Vaughn Marilyn (Martin) Smith, our sweet mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, went into the arms of Jesus on September 3, 2023. Although she was almost 92 years old, her passing was unexpected after a day of Bingo, peach cobbler, and Yahtzee.

Vaughn Marilyn Martin was born October 29, 1931, in Filer, ID to Helen (Hainline) Martin and William Lawrence Martin. Due to poor farming conditions, Vaughn’s family spent her early childhood years, from 1935-1941, in various Idaho towns including Richfield, Gooding, Bliss where she entered school, Wendell, and ultimately, at the age of 10, back to Filer where she would reside the remainder of her life.

In 1946, at 15 years old, Vaughn met the man who would be her lifetime partner for the next 69 years. Ralph L. Smith, recently returned from WWII, came to Filer from Illinois. Vaughn’s mom worked at the beet dump with Ralph and introduced him to her daughter and the rest was history. They dated through Vaughn’s high school years and married on June 15, 1950, shortly after her high school graduation. Ralph passed away in 2015 a few days short of their 65^th wedding anniversary.

Mom was a dedicated daughter, wife, homemaker, and mother throughout her life. In 1964, after Ralph had worked for the Wescott Oil Company plant for 15 years and after the death of co-owner Frank Filer, Vaughn and Ralph purchased the Wescott Oil Company plant and the Continental Oil Agency and combined them into Continental Oil, the current day Gertie’s Pizza in Twin Falls. Much of their original petroliana is on display as décor to this day. They operated this business for 14 years and sold it in 1978. They also farmed and raised animals on their 9 acres in Filer.

In 1970, while operating Continental Oil, they built a small mobile home court in Filer. They sold this in 1976 and began to convert their 9-acre property into a 46-unit mobile home park (Smith’s Trailer Park). Mom was the bookkeeper for their parks until Dad’s retirement in 1978 after which they managed Smith’s Park together.

In 1991, they sold their home and mobile home park and purchased land to the west of Filer which she still owns and resided on until last October when she relocated to assisted living in Twin Falls and then Jerome, ID at the time of her passing.

Vaughn was a member of the Filer Methodist Church being active in teaching, committees, fund raising, UMW, Circle, and serving for Kiwanis. She was active in the Hillside Helpers and Mary Time Clubs and faithfully attended senior exercise three times a week until the age of 89. She found beauty in everyday things and was an avid vegetable and flower gardener, and craftswoman. She was an accomplished seamstress and was always available to volunteer and assist her children in their any activities.

Mom was an incredibly courageous, kind, and giving woman. In 1987, at the age of 56, mom had a life-altering medical event. She overcame insurmountable odds by practicing prayer, gratitude, and thankfulness. She had a great love for children and animals, always treating them with great respect. She warmed the heart of her caretakers in her last years who all describe her as a blessing to have cared for. She was full of joy, loved to laugh, and brought happiness to the people she touched. She was loved by many and will be so missed by those of us who were blessed to have her in our lives.    

She is survived by her children, Curtis (Donna) Smith of Filer, Vickie (Kelly) Shepherd of Hollister, Bradly (Cyd) Smith of Kimberly, and Leeta (Marty) Thomason of Jerome; grandchildren Melanie, Matthew, and Michael, Cody, Ivory, and Kelsey, Cymeon, Robbie, Kent, and Emily, and Gabrielle; and 21 great-grandchildren; her sister, Jan Baggett of Corvallis, OR, and one brother, Don (Norma) Martin of Idaho Falls.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Smith; her parents, and one brother, Mark Martin.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Filer Senior Haven Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 288 Filer, ID 83328.