Sue M. Smith

Phyllis Marie “Sue” (Elphick) Smith Passed away peacefully in Mesa, AZ at the age of 83 on April 27, 2018 with her husband, daughter and grandson by her side. She was named Phyllis Marie by her dad when she was born, but her grandma did not like the name. So, she called her Susie. She's been Susie or Sue ever since. Sue was born at home in Dallastown on June 7, 1934, a daughter of the late Henry C. and Pauline G. (Myers) Elphick . She went to elementary school in Loganville and graduated from York High in 1952. On September 14, 1952 she married Don. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2017 with their bridesmaid and best man Mr. and Mrs. Gene Snyder. As a young girl, Sue delivered newspapers on her bicycle in Loganville. One day a young Stanley Brown asked if she wanted a job. She said yes. She became Earl Brown's first peach girl at the old Brown's roadside fruit stand. Sue drove in the kindergarten carpools when her children were young. She had various jobs at Smith Village over the years. Sue learned to swim in the 60's from John DeBarbadillo at the York YMCA. Later she would join and eventually teach the water exercise class at the YMCA for many years. Sue was a social butterfly. She was part of a card club group for many years. Loved going to movies, lunch, Red Hat outings, playing cards and games with family and friends and just visiting and catching up on life. Sue has always had an eye for a bargain. She was an avid coupon clipper and shopped the store ads. Sue was the queen of thrift shop shopping. She could find clothes and household items that were nearly new for next to nothing. Sue enjoyed her flower gardens and planting a few tomato plants each summer. For a while she had bird feeders and nectar feeders, so she could watch the birds. Sue and Don took to the open road in their motor home in the 80's to travel the country. In 1999, they became fulltime snowbirds in Mesa AZ. Sue was active with the Salem UCC stained glass class that would eventually design, cut, build and install the sanctuary, Narthex, library and lower entrance stained glass windows. Sue enjoyed reading novels and working with beads making very unique ear rings. For many years she made her own clothes and home curtains. Also, she would make t-shirts and bibs for all the new babies in her life. She was a lifetime dieter. She even became an instructor for the Diet Workshop in the late 70's. She became quite skilled at taking a recipe and making it much healthier by making simple ingredient changes and lowering the amount of salt, sugars, fats and overall calories. She never passed up a good glass of white zinfandel or a good cold gin and tonic. Simply, Sue loved life and lived it to the fullest! She is survived by her husband, Donald L. Smith; two sons, Jeffrey L. (Tina) Smith of Craig CO and Michael A. (Penny) Smith of Seven Valleys PA; a daughter, Monica Sue Smith of Denver CO; two brothers, Robert Elphick of York and Jack Elphick of Greer, SC; four grandchildren, Valerie, Randall, Jordan and Megan; two great grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Faith Smith; and two brothers, Fred and Ronald C. Elphick. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Salem United Church of Christ, 24 Franklin Street, Jacobus with her pastor, The Rev. Kevin Becker officiating. A visitation will be held from 10-11:00 AM Saturday at the Church. Private burial will be in Salem Union Cemetery. Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion is in charge of arrangements. Sue had a systemic autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome that effects the whole body. So, in lieu of flowers please make donations in Sue's name to Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation, 10701 Parkridge Blvd, Suite 170, Reston, VA 20191. www.sjogrens.org