THOMASTON – Helen S. “Skip” Smalley, 85, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at home. She was born Dec. 18, 1923, in Sidney, Mont., the daughter of Guy E. and Nora B. Samel. She lived in two more small Montana towns and graduated from Billings High School in 1941. She was trained and worked for a local dentist and in 1944, enlisted in the U.S. Navy – WAVES. While serving with a dental unit in a medical dispensary at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, she met and married Benjamin W. Smalley Jr. of Thomaston. After the war, they made their home in Thomaston, where they raised their family. They also lived in Rockland, Cape Elizabeth and Friendship. Helen, affectionately known as “Skip,” was given that name by her husband, before they were married. She was active in many town affairs, most recently with The Friends of Montpelier as a volunteer and trustee. She was an avid bridge player and also played Mahjong and cribbage on a regular basis. She was predeceased by her husband of 38 years, in 1983; her daughter, Linda, in 1969; her daughter, Janelle, in 1972; her oldest son, Jerry, in 2000; her mother, father and two brothers in Montana; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law in Thomaston. Surviving are her sons, Roland A. and wife, Deborah, and Benjamin W. III and wife, Elizabeth; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Hall & Bibber Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 78 Main St., Thomaston. A short interment service will be after at Village Cemetery, Erin Street, Thomaston. There will be no visiting hours. Should friends desire, donations in Mrs. Smalley’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105. Condolences to the family may be made at hallbibber@myfairpoint.net.
HELEN S. ‘SKIP’ SMALLEY
