Annette Pullin Smith was born on October 22, 1924 to Roswell Elijah Pullin and Vertie Mae Maddox Pullin in Spalding County GA, the oldest of three sisters. The quiet Southern girl married the outgoing Emory Dean Smith on September 17, 1946, and lived in Griffin GA, where her first daughter was born in 1948. When Emory was recalled into the military in 1951 during the Korean War, Annette was thrown into the life of a military officer’s wife. She moved her young family multiple times before settling in Tampa FL. Her time in Florida saw her family grow with the addition of another daughter and a son. During her husband’s long deployments, Annette held the family together, exemplifying the strength and grace required of military wives. She performed her military responsibilities with grace a strength and was proud of the independence she gained and the skills she learned – from putting together bicycles to repairing furnaces, and always providing support and encouragement to other military wives. The family moved to Montgomery AL at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, where Annette helped support those participating in the Montgomery bus boycott. She continued to move the family as her husband’s deployments required. Through it all, Annette never lost touch with her Southern roots (and never lost her Southern accent). She ensured the family returned to Georgia every summer so her children could remain close to their family. After her husband’s retirement from the military, Annette finally had an opportunity to settle in a location she loved: the beautiful and serene mountains outside of Laramie WY. They built a house on Jelm Mountain, where she lived for the next 47 years, and where she developed friendships through the Harmony Homemaker’s Club. She was never happier than when her home was filled by those she loved, especially her grandchildren. Her grandchildren’s favorite place was “The Mountain” with her. She was a storyteller, keeping the family memories alive.

Annette was preceded in death by her husband Emory, her brother Roswell Jr., and her sister Laura Jane.

She is survived by her sister, Martha, children, Deane (Gerry) Finnegan, Donna Hockley, David (Pam) Smith, Grandchildren Tad (Erica) and Patrick (Julie) Finnegan; Kris (Tammy) Hockley, Laurie (John) McKain; Jeremy Smith, Mandy (Greg) Southards, and Beth (Eric) Jacobs. Great grandchildren Tabby, Ashley, Cooper, Brandon, Sam, Haley, McKinley, Tessa, Leah, Luke and Lucy and beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to Wreath’s Across America PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623 or www.wreathsacrossamerica.org or the American Cancer Society.

 Services to be held at a later date with interment at Arlington National Cemetery.