Obituary of Valerie Lee McKnight-Smithers

Valerie Lee McKnight-Smithers

January 13, 1942- March 6, 2022

    Valerie “Val” McKnight-Smithers was born in Puyallup, WA, the only child of Bernard and Eleanora Stone. She graduated as Valedictorian from Puyallup High School in 1960. At 19, she married her love Raymond “Ray” McKnight, and they raised their two children (Jon & Cara). They enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, and clam digging at the ocean.

Val retired from Good Samaritan Hospital in 1997 and after retiring, she enjoyed traveling the US in the Motorhome with her second husband, Claude Smithers.  They were also snowbirds and traveled to Yuma, AZ where they enjoyed the warm weather, playing cards, and happy hours with friends.

When Val wasn’t busy traveling, she enjoyed boating and hosting family and friends at their house on Lake Tapps. She took daily walks around Inlet island, adored her lunch/movie dates with the “Island girls”, participated in Zumba classes and spent lots of quality time with her grandchildren. Val is fondly remembered as being the life of party, never missing song on the dance floor or a chance to play a game. 

Val is survived by her son, Jon (Becky), daughter Cara (Brian); four grandchildren: Kaelee (Keith), Alisha (Cole), Jake (Elaine), and Taylor; and great-grandchildren Rylee, Max, and Eleanor. She had many great friends throughout her life, a few of those who meant the world to her include Vicki Parrish, Sue and Rob Mearrkle, Ardelle Engh, Diana Byrne, and Diane and Paul Wolschleger

She was the best mom, grandmother and friend anyone could ask for.  We will miss her deeply.