Fern Marie (Dugger) Smith passed away on January 3, 2026. She was born in Powell, Wyoming March 22, 1931. She was the granddaughter of George Washington Dugger and Jessie Ann Finley and Frederick Conrad Biesemeier and Leona Elizabeth Conover and the daughter of O.T. Dugger and Ethel Myrtle Biesemeier. Her three brothers, David, Donald and Wesley preceded her in death.

Fern started her schooling in Powell, Wyoming before moving to Kane, Wyoming where her Dad worked as the Depot Agent for the railroad. Then the family moved back to Powell where she finished grade school and started High School. She was a junior at Powell High School when she decided to marry the love of her life, Harley Glenn Smith, on December 20, 1947 in Red Lodge, Montana. Married couples were not allowed in High School. She later earned her High School diploma from Connell High School.

They began the first years of their married life in Wyoming, moved to Washington in 1953, then a short time in Oregon. Before finally settling in the Tri-Cities where they became members of the Kennewick First United Methodist Church.

She was a good wife and mother. She and Harley had four children, one died in infancy. Those surviving her are: Diana Marie Thorpe, Rodney Dean Smith and Steven Craig Smith. Fern has seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. Fern and Harley recently celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary.

After her children finished high school she began working at Sears in Pasco, the first person to pass their training test with a 100% score and became a department manager. Fern enjoyed working at Sears and lived the Company motto (The customer is always right). She had many meetings with her employees making sure they abided by the motto. Her most terrifying experience with Sears was when she was demanded by a burglar at gun point to give him the money out of the till. When Sears moved to the Columbia Center Mall they asked her to be store manager. She declined still thinking of the robbery, taking early retirement, enjoying her cats and acrylic painting on wood, cloth and rocks.

In their retirement years they spent many days fishing, camping, cruising, enjoying life together and site seeing bus trips. They took their children, grandchildren and their first great grandchild on an Alaskan Cruise to celebrate 60 years of marriage.