Anna May Smith

November 26, 2012


RODMAN, N.Y.  —  Anna May Smith, 86, passed away Nov. 7 at her farm house in Rodman where she had resided for the past 54 years.

Anna May was born in August 1926 at her parents’ home in Tivoli, N.Y. 

She graduated a year early from Red Hook Central School, then received her Bachelor of Science degree from the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University, and then received her master’s degree in nutritional science from the School of Nutrition at Cornell in 1948.

Anna May worked as a research associate in the field of nutrition at Iowa State College for a year, followed by a similar position at Michigan State University for three years.

She was employed by the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Yonkers, N.Y., for three years before marrying her husband, Lyman Smith, in the summer of 1956. They lived and worked on their dairy farm on Freeman Creek Road, Rodman, for two years before moving to their present farm on the Whitford Road. They gradually entered into retirement as they climbed into their eighties, leaving their son and daughter to continue the operation.

Amongst other things, Anna May was known for her keen interest in vegetable gardening, freezing, and canning, as well as keeping up with current events, and for enjoying her work with dairy animals. She especially enjoyed visits with young children. 

Anna May attended church as often as possible during her later years, and had become committed to understanding and practicing the teachings of Jesus to the best of her ability.

Her husband, Lyman, passed away in August 2011. Three sisters, Mary Jane, Edith, and Alice, also died before her

Surviving are two sons, Erwin and Hugh; a daughter, Ethel; two grandsons, James and Nathan.

Any memorial contributions may be made to Faith Fellowship Church, Watertown, NY, or to Rodman Community Church, Rodman, NY.

Arrangements are with Cleveland Funeral Home, Inc., Watertown.

Information provided by Cleveland Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.