Evelyn Irene Friedrick Smith died Friday, November 2, 2012 at Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, GA. Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, November 5, 2012 at the Hatchechubbee United Methodist Church in Hatchechubbee, Alabama with the Reverend Larry Bennett and the Reverend Grant Parker officiating. Mrs. Smith was born on March 14, 1920 in Bromhead, the daughter of Edward Gustav Friedrick and Cora Belle Grammont Friedrick. Mrs. Smith was one of 14 children raised at the Friedrick homestead in southern Saskatchewan and was educated at Flaata School near Torquay. During the winter she often skated to school on the frozen creek. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Herman Frank Smith, and siblings Steven Friedrick, Lafayette Friedrick, Edgar Friedrick, Albert Friedrick, Lena Cooling, Cora Green, Bertha Rensfelt, Mary Slager, Margaret Torgunrude, Henry Friedrick, and Robert Friedrick. Mrs. Smith married Herman Smith, Professional Bird Dog Trainer and member of the American Field Trial Hall of Fame, on December 23, 1944, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Roanoke, VA. They moved to Hatchechubbee, Alabama in 1947 to find suitable training grounds and climate to establish Smith Kennels and pursue the sport of Field Trialing. For the next 60 years Mrs. Smith returned to her beloved Canadian prairies each summer with her husband and growing family creating an environment at "Dog Camp" that was legend for its southern hospitality, great food, storytelling, competitive horseshoe matches that went on after dark and lively card games. Family, friends and customers from across the nation remember the Saskatchewan "Dog Camp" as a magical place to visit. Mrs. Smith made sure each was warmly welcomed and well fed during their visit. Mrs. Smith embraced her adopted community of Hatchechubbee, AL lending her leadership and support to all community, school and church events.For many years she served as a Cub Scout Den Mother along with her good friend, Martha Herndon. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Hatchechubbee United Methodist Church for 65 years where she seldom missed a Sunday. For more than a decade Mrs. Smith served as a feature writer for the Columbus Ledger Enquirer writing countless articles about the interesting and colorful people in the region. Her uniquely skilled writing ability brought her subjects to life for the readers providing humorous enjoyment and warm memories of small town life in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Mrs. Smith is survived by son Collier (Suzanne), daughter Susan and son Rod, sister Fern MacPherson and brother Lauren (Myrna) Friedrick. She is also survived by three grandchildren Collier Friedrick Smith,II (Joanna), Marietta Smith O'Neill (Brian) and Frank Oliver Wiggins and three great grandchildren, Collier Friedrick Smith, III, Josephine Bailey O'Neill and Jayne Ann Smith and best friend and card playing pal, Lyra (Jean) Jones. In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions be made to the Hatchechubbee United Methodist Church, 182 Shady Grove Road, Hatchechubbee, AL 36858. www.vancememorialchapel.net.
