We say goodbye for now to our fun loving, talented, wonderful Aunt Lona,
Grandma Juanee Baird's youngest sister.
There are no words to fully say how we
feel about her loss.
She had a life filled with a special zest for nature, fun and loving those around her.
All of us will have a crevasse in our hearts
and our lives that will never be filled.
We will all miss her greatly!
Here is her obituary:
LONA HYMAS SMITH
April 14, 1961-March 9, 2012
BURLEY - Lona Hymas Smith, 50, of Burley, passed away Friday, March 9, 2012, from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident.
Lona was born April 14, 1961, in Burley, Idaho, the daughter of LaVern and Hazel (Linzy) Hymas. She graduated from Minico High School in 1979, then went on the attend Ricks College, where she studied art. Lona was lucky to marry her best friend, Dennis Smith, on May 5, 1994, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She met him up on the mountain at Pomerelle on a very stormy day when the weather forced skiers inside the lodge. She was a very cute ski instructor and Dennis was on ski patrol. They made their initial home in Burley, but early in their married life, they moved to a home on the Snake River because Lona loved the river, and because Dennis loved doing things to support and encourage Lona. He encouraged her to pursue her love of wood-carving, and she'd often ask his advice on pieces she was working on. Lona knew Dennis was her biggest fan, the reason she carved and the love of her life. Lona exuded a passion for life and the outdoors. She enjoyed swimming across the river and back to her home; exploring, hiking, skiing, bicycling, playing the banjo and all around adventuring.
Lona also enjoyed creating "illusionary realism" as she fondly tagged it, through her woodcarving. At 4 years old, she was drawing human forms. Later, she majored in sculpture at Ricks (BYU-Idaho), taking all the classes she could in human figure drawing and
3-D art. But it wasn't until 14 years after college that she discovered her rare talent in wild life art. Lona is one of only two recognized women bird carvers in Idaho, as well as the only woman fish carver. Her creativity, skill, dedication and love of her craft was beautifully displayed in her carvings, which were sold at the renowned Kneeland Gallery in Sun Valley, Idaho, and the Horizon Gallery in Jackson, Wyo. Private collectors recognized her incredible gift and commissioned her to do pieces for them. Her work was sought by numerous collectors for the exquisite attention to detail and the beauty of the pieces she crafted.
Lona's work has been publicly recognized through a number of honors and awards, including the prestigious Ward World Championship and placement in the University of Tulsa Gilcrease Museum collection. Although very humble and sincere by nature, Lona was so thrilled when her carving of the Stellar's Jay won the Advanced Level "Best in Division" for Decorative Life-size Wildfowl in the 2010 Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival in Ocean City, MD. This event is the top competition for world-class woodcarvers, and Lona's exceptional Stellar's Jay was a great representation of her skill. Lona gave of herself and her talent to bless the lives of others by donating art work to auctions benefitting wildlife and hunting organizations, a community cancer patient, and a bicycle accident individual to name a few.
Prior to carving full time, Lona held a variety of jobs throughout the community, working at the Wizard Sandwich shop and Jil's Flower House. She served as Dr. Blackmer's podiatric assistant, was a BLM dispatcher and a banjo, scuba and ski instructor.
Surviving are her husband, Dennis of Burley; siblings, Jaunee (Vaughn) Baird of Pleasant View, Utah, Vickie (Larry) Hathaway of Spanish Fork, Utah, Cherri (Clint) Peavey of Ketchikan, Alaska, Monica (Duane) Rasmussen of Burley, and a sister-in-law, Tannie Hymas of Eagle, Idaho. In her heart, Lona adopted her niece, Shana Mortensen, as the daughter she never had and loved her as her own. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Carol Smith of Burley; one brother-in-law, Jeff (Coco) Smith of North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, LaVern Charles and Hazel Marie Hymas; her brother, Steve Hymas, and her father-in-law, Rawlin (Butch) Smith.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Star LDS Ward, 100 S. 200 W. of Burley. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery. A viewing for family and friends will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St. in Burley, and from noon until 12:45 p.m. Thursday at the church.
"You were too young, too beautiful, too talented, to be taken away and how sad it is to lose such a lovely lady. We will always remember you and that smile. We have lost an amazing friend and artist in Lona Smith. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. You have left beauty here behind you in the legacy of your woodcarving and gifts of love that you sent into the lives of others. We are all better for you having been here. Lona, you were everything to us and more. You are our hero."
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to "Bikes for Kids" and dropped off at any D.L. Evans Branch or mailed to D. L. Evans Bank, 318 S. Oneida, Rupert, ID, 83350, with checks made payable to "Bikes for kids."
*When I get a copy of the "Life Tribute" I will post it.
