PEKIN, Ill. – Loraine Smith passed away at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, May 20, at Hallmark House Nursing Home in Pekin, Ill. She was formerly of Dixfield.

She was born in Weld, July 14, 1909, the daughter of Oliver Ditson Welch and Lelia Agnes Holt, she came to Dixfield at the age of 10. She graduated from Dixfield High School in 1927 and married Lawrence Smith Nov. 27, 1928. They were within their 60th anniversary by five days when he passed away Nov. 22, 1988.

They built their home at 6 Nash St. in July of 1936. She was a life member of the Dixfield Congregational Church on the Hill since she was 10. She was a life member of the Swasey-Torrey Legion Auxiliary 100, the Dixfield Alumni Association and the Dixfield Historical Society.

She was a correspondent for more than 20 years for the Lewiston Daily Sun and five years for the Rumford Falls Times. She was secretary and her husband vice president at one time of the committee for the Harlow Park. She was also a member for several years of the Ludden Library committee.

She had many hobbies including collecting music boxes, rocks and shells, stamps, postmarks, scrapbooks, family genealogy, reading, American history, flowers, walking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and plastic crafts. She also enjoyed all outdoor work.

She is survived by one daughter, Faye Smith Oates, and one son-in-law, Vernon Oates, of North Pekin, Ill.; one beloved grandson, Michael Edward Oates of Morton, Ill.; two sisters, Anita Reynolds of Dixfield and Ethel Child of West Peru; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by three brothers and four sisters, Percy, Kenneth and John Welch and Isabelle Knox, Mae Magoon, Barbara Gagnon and Kathlyn Horne.