Mary Authorine Smathers

Waynesville, Mary Authorine Hooper Smathers, 97, went to her heavenly home when she passed into the arms of the good Lord on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020, surrounded by her family. She was born on Caney Fork in Jackson County on June 24, 1923 and came to Saunook with her family in 1931 where she stayed the remainder of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Kenneth L. ‟Red” Smathers; grandson, Scotty Cochran; great-grandson, Levi Wade; son-in-law, Elmer Roseblade; parents, Dillard and Annie Jane Hooper; sisters, Margie Hall, Catherine Jordan, Lois Freeman and Imogene Hall; brothers, Clarence, Hubert and Bobby Hooper.

She is survived by her daughters, Jean Leonard and Janice (Buddy) Cochran; granddaughter, Karen (Darren) Wade; granddaughter-in-law, Heather Cochran (Tim) Hollingsworth; great-granddaughter, Courtney (Eric) Smith; great-great-grandson, Hutson Smith; brothers, Manuel (Mary Sue) and Carroll (Agnes Jane) Hooper; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was famous for her baking throughout the county.  She was especially famous for her fried apple pies and coconut pies.  She taught countless young people to cook, bake and can.  She was an excellent seamstress and made everything from suits for her 6’7” husband, to wedding dresses for her granddaughters and great-granddaughter.  She was one of the few women who knew how to tat, a lost art.  She was “Mother” or “Nanny” to so many people and touched so many lives in her long-life journey.

Funeral services will be held at Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church, 2262 Old Balsam Road, Waynesville at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31st. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the church.  Burial will follow the service at Plott-Saunook Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Pleasant Balsam Baptist Church, 2262 Old Balsam Road, Waynesville, North Carolina 28786.