Eleanor A. “Elly” Smith of Hermiston died on Oct. 28, 2026 in Hermiston at the age of 96.
She was born on April 29, 1930 in Anamoose, N.D. to William and Amanda Kloehn.
At a young age, Elly moved with her family from North Dakota to Crow, where she was raised and graduated from Crow High School in the class of 1948. She was united in marriage to Willard K. “Bill” Smith on May 27, 1949 in Eugene. They moved to Lexington in 1972 where she was a homemaker until moving to Hermiston in 1985, where she had lived since. She was a member of the Lutheran church. Elly’s children and grandchildren were the center of her life.
She is survived by her daughters, Barbara (Lee) Holly, Eugene, Karen (Don) Starr, La Grande, and Kristine (Richard) Carpenter, Hermiston; son, Billy (Torie) Smith, Pendleton; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Elly was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, and nine siblings.
A celebration of life gathering will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Sun Terrace in the activity room, 1550 N.W 11th St., Hermiston.
Please share memories of Elly with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
