Pioneer Of The Year: Erma Lee Smith

WAITSBURG – Erma Lee Smith will be honored this Sunday as Pioneer of The Year because her family history in Waitsburg is extensive – she hails from the Hales who date back to 1890 in the Waitsburg area.

“I’m Pioneer of the Year and turning 80,” Smith said last week. “I’m flying high.”

She learned last spring via a letter from the Waitsburg Historical Society that she would be receiving the award this year at the Pioneer Fall Festival. Smith will be honored on Sunday following the 11 a.m. community church service at the Bruce House Museum on Waitsburg’s Main Street.

“It was a great surprise,” she said of the title.

And boy, she’s earned it because of her family history in Waitsburg on her side and her late husband’s side of the family.

Smith was born in Ellensburg in 1932 to Leland and Isla Hales Kessler. Her father had worked as a trucker and she was an only child. The family moved to Waitsburg when Smith was 3.5 years old because her maternal grandfather, Charles A. Hales, had died and the family went to live with her grandmother, Lucinda Galloway Hales.

The Hales had lived in Waitsburg since 1898 and Smith and her parents moved to Waitsburg to live with Grandma Lucinda Hales in the house on Preston Avenue. Smith’s mother Isla had been born in this house as had many other Hales family members. She remembers how her grandmother kept a beautiful yard. In Waitsburg, Smith’s grandfather, Charles A. Hales was a sheep rancher. Erma’s father, Leland, farmed wheat in the area.

The Hales weren’t the only family members of theirs in Waitsburg. Smith said her father’s parents, Frank and Clara Kessler, also lived right next door.

Smith grew up in town and attended Waitsburg schools. She graduated in 1950 from Waitsburg High School and married Ken Smith the same year in December. The couple took their honeymoon at the Rose Bowl that year, she remembers.

Smith already had plenty of Waitsburg history in her family, and by marrying Ken, she married into the Smith family she added to it. The Smith Family had been in town since 1909. Ken’s parents were Glen and Clara Smith.

And Smith and Ken did their part to keep the family in Waitsburg. They grew the family history because their two children, Darleen Dozier and Glen Smith, have both remained in Waitsburg and had families of their own here.

“We go way back here,” Darleen said. “We grew up with the history of our family being here. I tried not to live here, but it didn’t work. But, I’m glad I live here.”

And like the rest of the Smiths, Kesslers and Hales, Smith, Ken and her children are farmers. Darleen is also a registered nurse who is married to farmer Perry Dozier.

Smith and her husband had farmed wheat and peas and had cattle and horses on their ranch -- Spring Valley Ranches.

Ken, who passed away in August 2007, had been very active in the Northwest Quarter Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association and the Washington State Cattleman’s Association. He was a Shriner, a Mason, part of the Commercial Club and the Lions Club. He had also been named Citizen of the Year by the Commercial Club in 1987.

Smith herself had been active in the Southeast Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Court and the farmerettes for many years – too many for her to remember. She describes herself as “a farmer’s wife” who is also part of Eastern Star and volunteered helping local 4-H kids.

And the future of the family heritage remains bright in Waitsburg.

Darleen’s children are in high school and she doesn’t know if they will remain in the area, but Glen’s children are grown and have already planted roots here.

“The legacy continues,” Darleen said.

Darleen and her son Logan will speak on behalf of Smith at the festival on Sunday.

“This is really hard for mom to accept this honor,” Darleen said. “She is really humbled by it.”