Margaret Grace Smith
May 2, 2016
Date of Service: May 9, 2016
Interment Location: Crown Section
Margaret Grace Coffey Ellis Smith, age 83, died Monday morning May 2nd 2016 in American Fork, Utah after a long battle with dementia.
Margaret was born September 15th, 1932 in Johnson City, Tennessee to Ambrose Minton Coffey and Evelyn Georgia Tipton. She had a happy childhood with her sister Clara and her brother Lawrence. She was active in sports, lettering in tennis, cheerleading, and basketball, and was named the “Best All Around Senior Girl” at Science Hill High School. She married Patrick Reed Ellis on August 25, 1951 in Aiken County, South Carolina. They spent their lives traveling throughout the United States as Pat served in the Air Force. She was the mother of Laura Kay Ellis and Patrick Reed Ellis, Jr.
Margaret’s first husband, “Pat” Ellis died at the age of 47 from cancer. She married Don Smith from Bellevue, Nebraska in 1980. After Don’s death in 1998, she moved to Alpine, Utah to live near family. She resided in this area until her death.
Margaret loved the sun, traveling and being out doors. She was always on the go, a hard worker, and had tremendous energy. She exercised religiously, kept her body fit, and always dressed and appeared her best. Her passions in life were family, friends, church and cleaning. Everything was in its place. She was the best friend a person could have and maintained her friendships across the country throughout her lifetime. She was fun, had a great sense of humor, celebrated all holidays, and loved throwing parties.
Margaret also had a strong conviction of Christ and exemplified His attributes. She grew up a Baptist but converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she taught Relief Society for many years. When she retired from work she and her 2nd husband, Don Smith, served a mission at the Chicago Temple. She was kind and compassionate. She loved people and accepted everyone. She always sided with the underdog.
Margaret is survived by her sister Clara Byrd and her daughter Laura (Tom) Lefler. Grandchildren, Adrian (Emilee) Lefler, Byran (Tandi) Lefler, Danielle (Peter) Caplain, Mason (Allison) Lefler, Ashlee (Bobby) Udall, and Mallory Ellis (John) Kaiser. Daughter in Law, Christine Ellis and daughters, Ashley Blashka and Elizabeth Olsen. She has 21 great-grandchildren.
Margaret is preceded in death by her mother, father, brother, husbands Patrick Reed Ellis and Donald Smith, and her son Patrick Reed Ellis Jr.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, May 5th, at 11:00 am, at the High Bench Chapel (Mountainville 5th Ward), 910 South High Bench Road, Alpine, Utah, where a Visitation will be held prior from 9:30 to 10:30 am.
Margaret will be interred at Happy Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, 2708 Elizabethton Hwy., Johnson City, Tennessee. A graveside service will be held Monday, May 9th, 2016 at 11:00 am.
