Margaret Ove Smith, of Bainbridge Island, died on Sept. 11. She was 96.

She was born in August 1912 in Ramona Acres, Calif., to the Rev. Thorlief T. Ove and Gunda Johnson Ove.

She had two half-brothers, Bjarne F. Ove and Gerhard O. Ove, one brother, Harold T. Ove, and one sister, Katherine Ove Pearsall. She was raised in Aberdeen, Wash., and for seven years was the secretary for its grade school and junior high school. While there, she met her future husband, Laurel G. Smith. They were married on Sept. 11, 1937, and lived in Spokane, Montesano, Wash., Yakima, Pullman, Berkeley, Calif., Tenefly, N.J., Denver, Colo., Hartsdale, N.Y., Atlanta, Ga., and Bronxville, N.Y.

When Laurel retired from Shell in 1968, he and Margaret built their retirement dream home on the Wing Point Golf Course. They joined Bethany Lutheran Church, where Margaret was a member of the Altar Guild and was the church librarian for six years. An avid reader, Margaret had previously volunteered in libraries in Atlanta and Bronxville.

She is remembered as a loving wife and mother who always made family her first priority. Her children always had all the time they needed with Mom. Her hobbies included reading, knitting, and flower arranging.

She is survived by sons Brent (Sheryl) Smith of Alpharetta, Ga., Craig (Anneke) Smith of Minneapolis, Minn., and Cory (Roberta Connelly) Smith of Seattle, as well as five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Bethany Lutheran Church. The family thanks the Gentle Care staff at Messenger House and Hospice of Kitsap County for providing loving care. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in her name to Alzheimer’s Association, 12721 30th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.