Marilyn May Smithson

Profile Updated: July 8, 2022
Marilyn May
Marilyn May

Then

Marilyn May

Now

Marilyn May

Yearbook

Yes! Attending Reunion
Residing In:
City:
State:
Country:
Kennewick, WA USA
Spouse/Partner: Frederick V. Smithson
Children/Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren: 1) Son, Eric C. Smithson, born 1978. Grandson, Kyle, born 2003. Granddaughter, McKenzie, born 2006.
2) More…Kimberly R. Smithson, born 1981. Died 1985. Bronchial pneumonia and staph infections.
3) Daughter, Sarah B. Smithson Call, born 1987. Soon to be divorced. Son of ex son-in-law, Derrick, born 2011. Grandson, Korbin, born 4-29-2014. Granddaughter, Addyson, born 5-14-2015.
Facebook/Twitter or other Homepage: View Website
https://wix.to/L8DyDNs?
Occupations:
Now:
Previously:
LPN for 30+ years. Now: Retired Inactive; LegalShield Associate (inactive Directors).
Military Service: W.A.C. and U.S. Army  
Class Year 1969
Extracurricular activities in school: favorite activities now:

I was involved in choir at school (and at church). I enjoyed art. Was very shy (probably scared) back then. Didn't get involved in activities too much outside of home. Home was very stressful, and unfriendly. Kept me in a reserved state of mind. No love shared, so how do you survive? You learn to cope by protecting yourself. :)

I am now 71, and am over all of the fear did I endured as a youth and a young adult. I have a relationship with God which has helped me greatly. I still downhill ski. I broke a rib and possibly caused some small fissures across my rib cage when I crashed on a simple hill a few years ago. My ski tips must have crossed or I hit an edge. I hardly ever fall. Am looking forward to skiing again if things ever open up after this C-19 fiasco. I love to swim, hike, sing (used to at church; won't with the mask on), read, bicycle, garden, kayak (since a couple years ago), etc. I may still be able to walk on my hands in the water; I haven't swum since 2019.

I will be participating with a Virtual Choir soon (June 2021). Will say more on that later.

School Story:

School and making relationships were hard for me. My home life was very unhappy. My mom was verbally abusive to me constantly, and was always on my case about something. It was usually totally undeserved. The stress sucked out all of my enthusiasm for anything. I barely made it thru to the end of the 12th grade. My grades were very low; I didn't study because of depression. I even almost failed English which was one of my favorite subjects! The long vocabulary lists bored me to death.

I learned later on in life that I could get good grades when I applied myself. I averaged a 3.97 GPA in college in 2008 when I was working towards getting my RN. I did not continue because I was also helping my daughter through college. Financially, it was just getting to be too much. I stopped just short of the math requirements for my nursing pre recs. I realize now I should have put off family obligations, and finish my education. My daughter didn't even follow through after that. It was good however to finally realize that I could have made good grades back then had I been happy and motivated.

I kept a low profile and had very few friends. I was very shy, but more likely, scared. My mom divorced my dad (who was just as selfish) due to physical abuse. She was completely uninterested and uninvolved in my happiness, or schooling. I did participate in choir. That turned out to be a saving factor in my life. I learned how to sing while I was in the military because I had Christian records that I liked to sing with. After I married, I participated in trios, quartets, sextets, double mixed sextets, large group choirs, concerts, and more. I even formed choirs at times, and directed them (not that I liked directing).

In school, I had to keep my hair short for so many years. I was told I didn't take care of it, but I didn't know how! My mom never showed me how to properly take care of my hair, or my skin or nails. After high school, I must have rebelled because I have a picture where it was quite long (I still need to find that picture). I kept it long for many years, but have had it cut in a layered cut at times.

I was just beginning to like my hair in high school. It was somewhat curly, and had a bad frizzy spot right in the middle of the back of my head! I thought it was mostly because of bad hair products, but I'm thankful to have had healthy hair most of my life. Then, I had covid for two months last year (Sept-Oct of 2021). Strangely, afterwards, almost all of my hair fell out (hair fall), and as the hair began to grow back in, the curly area returned in the same spot! Not frizzy this time, but mostly unmanageable. Frustrating!!

I also had crooked teeth, so was very self-conscious. Braces back then was absolutely out of the question. She was a single mom raising 4 children. I finally got braces after I got married. They were straightened in 1990.

I wish I had had the courage to make more friends, but I suppose I didn't because I felt ugly. And I wasn't emotionally supported in my own home. How would my friends be accepted, and would they accept me? I was very lonely, and cried a lot when I was alone. I wish I had understood that I could have sought out a counselor or mentor, but we didn't do things like that in those days.

I had three brothers and one sister. She pretty much ignored me. She preferred to be with her friends. I hung around with my brothers mostly, and became a regular tomboy. I should mention that I made friends easier with boys, than with girls (probably due to my bad relationship with my sister). Anyway, there was this boy in my American Problems class who sat across from me. He was so handsome. I was too embarrassed to speak in class, afraid he would notice me, and I didn't dare look directly at him. I figured he would think I was ugly (my teeth and my frizzy hair). He was on the football team, I think... Can you imagine being so introverted? Ooh, it was painful.

I now find it easier to make friends, but I have learned to be selective. Not everyone who says they're your friend, acts like a friend. My present friends love me and appreciate my sense of humor. I have since grown out of the fear that gripped me as a youth. I am a Christian, and am now content in knowing that I have the hope of eternal life because of a Savior who knew how to save one so lost. 😄

Comments:

Once I graduated, I eventually was forced to leave home. That was the best thing that could have happened to me. I needed to grow up, and getting away from that negative environment was the start. It was very hard for many years, because I'd never had any counseling or mentoring, which I sorely needed. I didn't know what questions to ask for help and I didn't realize that I could even ask any questions. Anyway, I went into the Army, became a Clerk-Typist, traveled a bit, went to South Korea on one tour, became a Christian, met my future husband there (he was a medic), got a 3-month early out (we could get that in those days) from the Army, lived in Texas for 5 years, got my LPN certification, had my son, moved back to the Northwest, had another child (a girl named Kimberly) who died before her 4th birthday, had another child (Sarah), worked part and full time off and on while being a home-school parent, and endured a life of family, hardships, and my husband's illnesses. My kids are now grown. My son has two kids. He is divorced and lives nearby. I have two grandkids from my daughter who is going through a divorce. She and her family lived with us for two years because they had trouble finding work. Fortunately, they finally moved out two years ago last March. I think I have recovered by now... My husband is still working full-time as a Planner. We have endured extensive layoffs over the years, but not in recent years. We'll celebrate 47 years of marriage together March 10, 2021. Staying together that long requires a tremendous growth curve! I'm probably most proud of the singing opportunities God's has given me in my life. After being accepted into the Mid-Columbia Symphony choir by audition, we sang "long-hair music" with the Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra for about 5 years before the choir disbanded. Then I sang Handel's Messiah with the same group (most of them went to the same church together) perhaps 8 times. They had been performing it for many years. Being able to perform this beautiful music was a high point in my life. I even sang with them while I had chronic bronchitis. I was able to get rid of that. You'll have to ask me how I did it in a private message. But it never came back, hallelujah! Anyway, last year we canned, froze and dried produce from our garden all summer. It really kept me busy, but got boring at the last. We also finished siding and putting in new windows and doors on our house before Fall hit. My husband just finished framing the windows (May 2021). We wanted to save money on the cost of hiring someone else. He did a really nice job though! He has also been working on our irrigation since I insist on having a sizable garden (veges, fruit and some flowerbeds). He's having to do some auto maintenance as well. Always something going on with vehicles every time you turn around... I just finished building a website for our new business. More on that later.

What elementary, junior/middle and high school(s) did you attend and, if not Medford, in what city were they located?

They were in Downey, California. I moved to Medford before my Senior year. Downey Senior High School; John Muir Junior High; 68th Street Elemtary School.

Marilyn's Latest Interactions

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Jul 01, 2023 at 1:33 AM
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Aug 28, 2022 at 11:19 AM

Posted on: Aug 27, 2022 at 5:59 PM

Happy birthday Myron! Even though we weren't close friends, I considered you one of my best friends way back when we attended the same church together.

Jul 08, 2022 at 8:56 AM
Jul 08, 2022 at 8:09 AM

I turned 71 on July 1st! Am feeling good in spite of my age. A little overweight, but that can change with more exercise. Just need to do it!

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Jul 08, 2022 at 8:01 AM
Jul 01, 2022 at 1:33 AM
Jul 01, 2021 at 1:33 AM
Jun 04, 2021 at 11:51 AM

Happy birthday, Rocky! :^)

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Jun 04, 2021 at 1:58 PM

Posted on: Jun 04, 2021 at 11:50 AM

Happy birthday, Jim! :^)

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Jun 04, 2021 at 12:57 PM

Posted on: Jun 04, 2021 at 11:48 AM

Hi Herbert, I'm sure we never met although I went to school there as a senior. We had moved up from California. I was very shy or scared, and did not get to know people very well. Anyway, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday in advance before I forget. It's kind of an awesome thing to be entering the 70s and also feeling really good. How many people can say that? Huh? I still like to downhill ski as well. My husband and I have recently taken up kayaking. I really love that! Bye for now, Marilyn.

Marilyn May Smithson added a photo to her profile gallery.
Jun 03, 2021 at 1:23 PM
Taken not too many days ago. I'll be 70 July 1st!
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Jun 03, 2021 at 1:10 PM
This was a photo of me In my office in Taegu, Korea at the Korean Support Command in 1972.
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Jun 03, 2021 at 1:04 PM
My new boyfriend, Fred Smithson at Christmas, 1973. Once we got back to the US, we were married on March 10, 1974. Been married ever since!
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:49 PM
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:46 PM
Marilyn May Smithson changed her "Now" picture.
Jun 03, 2021 at 12:45 PM
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:36 PM
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:30 PM
We began kayaking in 2019. Both of us took to it like a duck to water. I still can't decide though which I love most: downhill skiing or kayaking. Humm..
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Probably listening to music while I work on our Amazon TWF WIX website.
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Jun 03, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Walking the Virtual Bloomsday Worldwide walk/run this year (2021) along the Columbia River, Kennewick, Washington.
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Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:09 PM
In our bunk house during Clerk-Typing school at Fort McClellan, Anniston, Alabama in 1971.
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:10 PM
This was a photo of me In my office in Taegu, Korea at the Korean Support Command in 1972.
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:10 PM
My new boyfriend, Fred Smithson at Christmas, 1973. Once we got back to the US, we were married on March 10, 1974. Been married ever since!
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:07 PM
Specialist 4th Class in my dress greens.
Posted: Nov 23, 2020 at 8:08 AM
Posted: Nov 23, 2020 at 8:10 AM
Posted: Nov 23, 2020 at 8:11 AM
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:12 PM
Feeling calm in Oklahoma at dinner during LegalShield Convention activities.
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 1:13 PM
Volunteering at Grace Clinic (a free clinic for disadvantaged) in Tri-Cities, Washington, 2017.
Posted: Jun 03, 2021 at 12:30 PM