Charlotte Ruth Zimmerly

Charlotte Ruth (Phillips Smythe) Zimmerly was born on June 7, 1935 in the front bedroom of the family home at Route 2 Ridgefield, WA to Earl and Ruth Phillips. She died January 19, 2011, peacefully and unexpectedly at home in Vancouver, WA, from a brain aneurism. She was a young 75 years old. Charlotte grew up in Sara/Ridgefield Washington and graduated from Ridgefield High School. A review of her yearbook tells a story of a girl involved in club activities, sports and cheerleading with many close friends. The friendships she developed were long lasting and she cherished those friends and continued those relationships into her adult life. Charlotte was very involved in her church, Southridge Community of Christ, and considered the members a part of her family. She was a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher to three generations and was especially known for her abilities with crafts in her classroom. Charlotte (and her husband Sam) played key roles in restoring and maintaining the Lewis River Campgrounds for many years and served as hosts in their cabin to countless numbers of youngsters in the church. On Sunday January 23rd her church family had a special gathering for sharing with each other. It was comforting to hear all of the remembering and acknowledgments of her love, enthusiasm and effort shared in support of the good life for everyone in so many aspects of her life. Throughout her life she wore many hats, as teacher's assistant at Orchards Elementary School, as landlord with her husband, as pie maker with her church for the Clark County Fair and for Sharehouse, and as field boss at Erickson's farms where she is still remembered for creating "the King Bean" as an award for the best picker and for being quick to join in on strawberry fights with the young pickers. She was a memory maker, a good fairy bringing treats in the night for unsuspecting children and she energized her own inner child riding great roller coasters and building sand castles with her family. Every year she embraced her passion for creating a winter wonderland of Christmas spirit with as many as 28 trees or more with many village scenes and Santas, nutcrackers and angels throughout their home. It was not unusual for visitors to find a Christmas wonderland in the Zimmerly home even in the middle of summer. Charlotte and her husband Sam were two halves that made up one whole amazing being. He was her "Prince" and she was his "Honey." They were inseparable 26 hours of every day. Whether it was watching a beautiful sunset in their own backyard by the pond or one in Hawaii, Greece, Africa, Rome, China, Australia or any of the many places around the world they had traveled, it was always together. They were best friends and lovers who never failed to kiss and hug each other and say "I Love You" every single day, and usually several times a day, in their 42 years of marriage. Charlotte loved her family, friends and traveling with her husband to the beach and around the world. She so enjoyed working in her yard and found great satisfaction in giving visitors a tour of the latest bulbs or blossoms as they emerged. Charlotte was the "go to" for any and all challenges and she embraced all opportunities to help others when needed. Her emails were a constant presence in the lives of family and friends the world over. Charlotte had an unending energy and spirit that brought a light to every space she entered. Accepting of all, she embraced the good in all of us and encouraged us to be the best people we could be. She was an angel here on earth that cared with love and joy for all those who were lucky enough to have her touch their lives here and around the world. Her spirit and joy will live on forever. She is survived by her husband, Sam (Sammy) Zimmerly, her sister Shirley Chapman and husband Jim, children Don Zimmerly and wife Tina, Deborah Palmer and husband Jackie, Becky Swedblom, John Smythe III and wife RaDawn, Janice Greiff. Charlotte had 19 grandchildren: Nick Zimmerly, Mindi Zimmerly, Zoey Zimmerly, David Peer, Jody Davis, Brandy McEllrath and husband Pete, Amber Langley-Jones and husband Billy, Courtney Langley and significant other Jim Sinclair, Kirsten Swedblom, Annie Swedblom, John Smythe IV (mother Carrie Waffle), Jared Smythe, Heidi Storey and husband Ladarius, Heather Martin and husband Kawan, Monica Middleton and husband Russell, Jessica Bartin and fiance Jonathan Manley, Jessica Melton and husband Derek, Nicole Greiff and fiance Mason Barlow, and 28 great grandchildren: Dylan, Dustin, Brianna, Devante, Ian, Nneka, Sydney, Joseph, Isaiah, Gillian, Palley, Petra, Caleb, Garrett, Tyler, Makayla, Kodee, Monique, Erica, Jaxon, Tayler, Macie, Isabella, Sophia, Ladarius Jr, ShaNice, Isaiah and innumerable nieces, nephews and extended family and friends around the world. She was well known for "adopting" children and adults alike and loved them all as her own. Charlotte was preceded in death by her first husband, Jackie Smythe (died in a car accident April 4, 1968), parents Earl and Ruth Phillips and daughters Linda and Susan. In Charlotte's memory donations may be made to Outreach International www.outreach-international.org; or Heifers International www.heifer.org. Sam's hope is that in Charlotte's memory you will enjoy & cherish your family and friends every day and shower them with lots of love and hugs. A Memorial service will be held to honor Charlotte's life and memory at 2pm Feb 5, Community of Christ Church 400 NE 179th St Ridgefield, WA.

Charlotte Ruth Zimmerly

June 7, 1935 - January 19, 2011