Hortense Smith Tompkins

Pocatello - Hortense Smith Girrard Tompkins, 85, longtime resident of Pocatello, passed away Saturday, morning December 13, 2008 at a local care center following an illness. She was born February 19, 1923 in Soda Springs, Idaho, a daughter of Carl and Gladys Smith Rinehart. She lived in Soda Springs as a young girl where she attended school through the eight grade. When she was 12 years old, she contracted polio. At the age of 16, she moved to Pocatello, where she worked at the Whitman Hotel, Eddy's Bakery and a sandwich shop on main street.

On March 31, 1948, she married Joseph L. Smith in Pocatello. He passed away in an auto accident in 1956. She married Ether Girrard on April 28, 1957 in Pocatello, Idaho. He passed away October 13, 1966. Her third marriage was to Delbert William "Bill" Tompkins on September 16, 1973 in Pocatello. He passed away December 6, 2005.

Hortense was a very good cook and all her friends and family appreciated the great food she would share. Over the years, she lived on South 1st St, South 2nd St. and moved to the Portneuf Towers on West Day when it opened. Hortense lived in an Assisted Living Center with Delbert for several years. Following his passing, she lived in a care center because of her health condition.

She loved having a newspaper. She loved postcards and had a large collection of new and used ones. She was a member of TOPS (a weight loss support group). Hortense enjoyed going to State Recognition Day for TOPS held at different places throughout the state of Idaho. Hortense loved to talk to people and as they say "she never met a stranger".

She attended church faithfully. She was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was very generous and willing to share the little bit she had with others. She contributed to many charities on a regular basis. She loved to read and look at beautiful pictures. She especially loved to read the funny papers in the Sunday paper and many times would laugh out loud as she read them. She liked to watch cartoons on TV and she also liked to embroidery. She was very creative and enjoyed working with her hands.

Hortense suffered a miscarriage during her first marriage and never was able to have other children. She is survived by her close friends and caretakers, Tom and Pat Bowers and Ruth Adamson. She was preceded in death by all her siblings including 5 brothers,one sister and her parents.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave. with Bishop Gary Davis, of the Pocatello Third Ward officiating. Interment will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call on Thursday for one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.