Ann Marie Smith, 77

Ann Marie Smith, 77, of Kalispell, passed away at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Dec. 2, 2015, of natural causes.

She was born at Whitefish Hospital on May 30, 1938, to Alice (Weber) and Orman “Hutch” Hutchinson.  She graduated from Whitefish High School and married her high school sweetheart, Gary Smith, on Oct. 3, 1957. They had three daughters, Tracy, Tami and Toni.

Ann and Gary lived in Missoula, Rochester, Minnesota, and Murphys, California, early in their marriage before returning to the Flathead Valley. Ann managed Gary’s Physical Therapy practice and she and her father built the home on Northridge Drive that the family lived in for 35 years. Ann also worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for the Kalispell Orthopedic Office and School District 5’s lunch program for many years, retiring in 2003.

Ann was very social and loved skiing, boating, golf, bridge and anything else that involved spending time with her friends and family. She served her community through positions on the planning and zoning board and was a Kalispell City Council member.  

There is nothing that Ann would not do for her children. The Smith house was always the one where the neighborhood kids gathered. She made countless road trips around the state to school activities. Ann welcomed son-in-law and grandchildren with the same love and passion that she had for her girls. As one of her granddaughters commented, “The only thing that Ann loved more than jewelry was her family and especially her grandchildren.”

Ann is survived by her husband, Gary; daughter, Tracy and husband Bruce Freeman; daughter, Tami and husband John Barrett; and daughter, Toni and husband Craig Fischer; grandchildren, Lindsay and husband Ben Feil, Dani Freeman, Bryce and Lacie Fischer, Kacie and Jackson Barrett; sister, Joan and husband Carl Storkson; and aunt, Allyce Street.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Hutch Hutchinson, and brother, Ned Hutchinson.

A celebration of Ann’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. The family will welcome visitors for lunch at the Club House at Village Greens following the service.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.