Mary Ann Smoak Garber

Mary Ann Smoak Garber moved to Franklin, Idaho with her good friend, Linda Lund in the Fall of 2019. Her Alzheimer’s/Dementia symptoms increased and she spent her last years in the Heritage Senior Assisted Living Center in Preston, Idaho. We would like to thank all the Heritage care workers and Symbii hospice workers that assisted her while in assisted care. We would especially like to thank Thelma Roley.

Mary Ann was born 14 September 1931 in Antioch Township, Hoke County, North Carolina to Russell Smoak and Romie Edward Smoak. Mary Ann had 2 older siblings. Her brother, Albert Edward Smoak and sister, Claudia “Leette” Smoak. Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband, Harry Edward Garber. Mary Ann is survived by her son, David (Emily) resides in Provo, Utah.

Mary Ann was 8 years old when World War II began. Growing up in North Carolina with Fort Bragg in front and Camp McCall a few miles behind their family home brought many strong childhood memories that included war exercises of U.S. soldiers.

Mary Ann’s parents were outstanding teachers. As her brother and sister were older and gone, it felt at times like she was an only child and Mary Ann quickly learned to love to read.

Music has been a lifelong part of Mary Ann’s life. She was a soprano and had a beautiful voice. She sang solos when young. She became the Director of Education of Christian Music in the Presbyterian church. She directed choirs in North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. She filled this role for some years. Because Mary Ann had great faith in the Lord, she then became a beloved schoolteacher of 5th, 7th & 8th grades. 

Mary Ann taught at Cooper school in McLean, Virginia as a teacher. There she met Ken Holloway who was a stake missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She asked him if he would give her a Book of Mormon, she’d like to read it. He told her that he would not give one to her unless she would allow him to teach her the gospel. She agreed.

It was at Cooper school that she met Harry, her soon to be husband. He also joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mary Ann and Harry were married in 1971 in Arlington, VA. They traveled to Utah to be sealed in the Logan Utah Temple. During their marriage they also resided in Vienna, Virginia and later moved to McLean, Virginia. Harry had two children from a previous marriage, Tom Garber (Pat) (Virginia) and Brenda (Bob Taylor) (Colorado).

Both Mary Ann and Harry sang in the Mormon Choir of Washington, as well as ward choirs and small group choirs. Mary Ann said she used to listen to the Tabernacle Choir on the radio growing up on Sunday morning. She never dreamed she would become a member of the church that had the choir. Mary Ann loved LDS Hymns. Her favorite hymns were about our Savior, Jesus Christ such as I know that my Redeemer Lives and I stand All amazed, among others.

Mary Ann believed in being as active in politics and being as educated as she could be in current events in our country. She would quote Thomas Jefferson. “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”

Mary Ann was valiant in her testimony of Jesus Christ. She was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held various positions in it, especially in the Relief Society throughout her church life. She said that she planned a lot of funerals in her lifetime during her Relief Society presidency callings. Now it is her turn. Mary Ann will be greatly missed by many.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:00 pm (MST) at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 S. 800 E. Preston, Idaho. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Interment will be in the National Memorial Park Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia on November 16 2024 at 12:00 noon EST. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

Services will be streamed live and can be viewed Friday at 12:00 p.m. (MST) by clicking on the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/Cv8rVz62j4Q?feature=share