Lorrine Mae (Smith) Pettijohn

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June 25, 1925 ~ January 7, 2023 (age 97)

Lorrine was born June 25, 1925, in Lovilia, Iowa to John and Mary Smith. She was the eldest of 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. Her family had farmland and a coal mine “Smith Brother’s Coal Co.” 5 miles outside of Lovilia. It was in high school that she first met her future husband Eugene from Bussey, Iowa. He was home on leave during WW II and looking for a pen pal. Upon high school graduation Lorrine and her younger sister Dorothy moved to Des Moines, Iowa looking for work and when the war was over Eugene and Lorrine had their first date. Soon after, they were married on December 12, 1946, at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. Together they had 2 children, Stephen and Rhonda. After 66 years of marriage, Eugene passed away in 2012.

In 1953 Eugene and Lorrine sold their home in Des Moines and moved to southern California. In 1963 they moved to Aurora, Colorado where they lived until 2008 when they moved to Gustine, TX. to be closer to family. Lorrine worked as a secretary most of her life. She retired at age 54 from the Suburu Corp. She loved fishing, boating, helping out on hunting trips and cooking the game, camping, traveling and attending the 13th Airborne Division Association Annual Reunions with Eugene. She loved to spoil, laugh with and at her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made them feel like they were the greatest comedians in the world! She was well known for the candy bag in her very large purse and for the “goodies table” in her kitchen that was always well stocked with donuts, cookies and candies. You could always count on her for a smile and a “listening ear”.

Lorrine was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dublin, TX.

She is survived by her daughter Rhonda Nicholson, husband Greg, granddaughters Audra Powell, husband Clint and their children Jade, Ellie and Liam, Melissa Burnham, husband Joseph and their children Blaise, Gemma and Leo, grandson Ian Nicholson and his children Ginger and Kolbe, granddaughter Saundra Dygert, husband Bill and their children Sara and Allie, grandson Mike Pettijohn and his children Natalie and Jessie. She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, siblings Dorothy Pinegar, Alfred Smith, Lee Smith, son Stephen and grandson Christopher Pettijohn. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

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