Helene Janet Coffin Smith, 93, passed away on March 11, 2017 at the Smith Phayer Hospice House in Landrum, S.C.

She was born in Manhasset, N.Y. on December 23, 1923 to John U. and Carrie Fox Coffin. Helene graduated from Manhasset High School in 1940. She played violin in the school orchestra and loved to dance.

In 1942 she married Eugene R. Smith Jr. Helene worked for the N.Y. Telephone Company and later local banks. They lived in Roslyn, Dix Hills, Huntington, Long Island, and Old Field, Setauket, Long Island, N.Y. until they retired to Tryon, N.C. in 1980. She was a Girl Scout leader and joined the local community theater in Huntington. They belonged to the Stony Brook Yacht Club where they enjoyed boating, fishing, and socializing. She graduated from the Willsey Institute of Interior Design in Garden City, N.Y. in the 1960s and they enjoyed antiquing. They joined the Tryon Country Club. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker, seamstress and needle pointer. She loved to entertain. She took painting instructions from Bill Ryan of Saluda.

Helene was predeceased by her husband, mother, father, and sister Elizabeth Coffin Pearson, and an infant son.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Kathleen, her niece Janet Stuart Love (Bruce), great nephew Andre Stuart Love, nephews Wayne Richard Smith (Maggie), Kerry Edwin Smith, John Frederick Smith, and a cousin Kenneth Lawrence. Also left to cherish her memory are many special people in her life, Kenneth T. Bosley, Brenda Gibbs, Bonnie Euston, and Jean Prevost whose phone call she looked forward to every day.

A memorial service will take place at a later date.

If anyone wishes to honor her memory a donation to Hospice, or any other charity of choice would be appreciated.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.