Helen Marjorie "Klassen" Smart 95, of Anacortes, passed away on Wednesday, 31 August 2022 after a short illness.  Helen was born in Vona, Colorado in a sod house on 28 November 1926 to Cornelius and Emma (Dulmer) Klassen; the seven of eight children. She was preceded by her parents; brothers: Paul, Dietrich, Ervin, Loyd and Jack and sisters: Edith, Doris, and Mable.

Helen attended the one room Murphy School where she often rode a horse to school. She graduated from Vona High School in 1945 where she participated in basketball and in spelling bees.  Helen attended nursing school for a short time and then headed to San Francisco after WW II where she met her future husband, Herbert Smart. They were married in June 1947 and lived in Seattle and then moved to Newhalem and Diablo where Herb worked for Seattle City Light.  Helen was active in the community,  as a Troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 48 and Boy Scout Troop 78.  She participated in the community Rifle Club, being an expert shot with the 22 rifle and was a good deer hunter.  Family vacations were spent boating in the San Juan Islands, walking on beaches, collecting rocks, driftwood, and fishing.  After Herb's retirement, they purchased the 48 foot commercial salmon troller the " Marquesa " where Helen became the 1st Mate, where she cleaned fish, was chief cook and deck crew helping Herb maintain the boat.

In 1987, they retired and moved to Anacortes, living in the Vista Too retirement neighborhood where they both assisted with maintenance, tree cutting and yard care and making lifelong friendships.  Retirement allowed time to travel, visiting family and friends in Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, Illinois, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.  After Herb passed away in 2005 Helen spent time volunteering at the Senior Center, working in the kitchen washing dishes, setting tables and visiting with friends. She enjoyed the Silver Foxes exercise class, especially fly swatter volleyball.  Helen also raised money for the Meals on Wheels program during their March for Meals event.  Helen and her Wii Bowling teams raised about $2,000 a year for several years until Covid.

Helen enjoyed traveling with her family; cruising to Alaska with her granddaughters Lacey and Kimberly; flying to Hawaii and Japan to visit daughter Barbara and with the family to Florida - Disney World.  When Helen was 90 she traveled by car to Alabama for the Talladega NASCAR Race. She loved watching NASCAR races on TV and discussing the drivers with her son Robert and daughter-in-law Ruthann.

Helen found great solace reading the Bible and studying with her friends in the Naomi Bible Study group.  She explored the local area, enjoyed dinner, games and hymns with the "Young At Heart" senior group.  She was a member of the Green Thumb garden club and always enjoyed their Christmas wreath making project.  She loved being outside and kept busy with her gardening and her yard, filling it with flowers and vegetables.  She was out checking her garden the day she fell ill.

Her favorite team "the Seattle Mariners"  provided her endless hours of entertainment, she could tell you all the players and who was hot and who was not.  Prior to her passing the "winning streak" brought her happiness.  Helen was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ladies Auxiliary Post 5056, Concrete WA.

Helen always had a smile for everyone she met and you could not miss her beautiful blue eyes.  As one of her senior center friends said, "Helen was the example of how to grow old gracefully".

Surviving family: Robert (Ruthann) Smart, grandchildren: Lacey (Jeremiah) London, great grandchildren Maddison, Matthew, Johnnie, Andrew and Emma; and Kimberly (Josh) Longanecker; Doug (Lori) Smart, grandchildren, Katie (Oliver) Persons, great grandchildren: Emmett, Merrick and Hudson, Brianna Smart (Liam Fielder), Christopher Smart (fiancé Ashleigh Wenz); daughters: Barbara Smart, Joanne (Dutch) Overly, granddaughter Heidi (Chad) Schaeffer, great granddaughters: Dahlia Ann Hicks, Melissa (Carl) Bright and great granddaughter Bianca.

In lieu of flowers a donation to Skagit County Senior Nutrition Program (Meals on Wheels) or Anacortes Senior Center or Anacortes Fire Department.  A graveside service will take place on 1 October 2022 at Fernhill Cemetery in Anacortes at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Anacortes Senior Center.  If the weather is inclement, please meet the family at 12:30 at the Senior Center.

To share memories of Helen please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/helen-smart