Gloria Smitherland
62, Riverbank Junction

Gloria Smitherland, 62, of Riverbank Junction, formerly of Bass Lake, whose motto was “always save the best for last,” died Tuesday at an undisclosed location.

She was born Gloria Florida in 1953, and live for many years at 33 1/3 Granary Row, Bass Lake. Eventually, she moved, but not immediately.

In 1972, she graduated from Bass Lake High School. In the mid-1970s, in America, she married Roger A. Smitherland. How they met is a bit of a mystery. The couple raised two children, who are now adults and have families of their own. They, their spouses, and almost all grandchildren survive.

Roger was born Dec. 6, 1951, in St. Jennifer, Vt. He worked as a machinist for nearly 40 years. He enjoyed fishing, playing poker and, sometimes, playing poker while he fished. Other hobbies included “tinkering” and reading magazines, most notably Popular Machinists. On May 23, 1981, he married Betty Johnson-Johnson. His previous marriage had ended in divorce.

Roger died Oct. 11, 2007. Services were held later that week.

Calls to Gloria’s family will not be returned.