Alfred W. Smith 

20 Oct 1951 in White Salmon, WA 

Berniece “B” H. (Shaw) Smith 

April 3, 1914 – August 19, 2008 

SALEM – Berniece “B” Hand (Shaw) Smith died on Tuesday morning, August 19, 2008. A fourth generation Oregonian, she was born near Oakland, Oregon, in the home built by her father, Alfred Hand, on part of what had been a donation land grant held by one of her pioneer great grandfathers. She was a direct descendant of Sutherlin and Oakland pioneers John Franklin and Sarah Sutherlin and Andrew J. and Roseanna Manning who settled in the Douglas County area in 1850. 

Berniece attended school in Oakland, graduating as class valedictorian in 1932. After graduation, she worked briefly at the Courthouse in Roseburg, and later at the Business College in Eugene. In 1933, she married Dudley G. Shaw. Berniece worked thirty years for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Store in Salem, where she served as a clerk and bookkeeper. She married Alfred Smith in 1951. Berniece was an avid square dancer and enjoyed pinochle “marathons,” fishing the Alsea River, and traveling. Since she “never met a stranger,” she had a large network of friends locally and throughout the country. 

What she loved was her Lord, her family, small children, music, flowers, (not including dandelions which dare not show their faces in her lawn), friends and cohorts. Many will remember passing her house, where she lived alone until quite recently, seeing her at work in her yard, pulling weeds which she abhorred and nurturing her flowers. 

Berniece was a volunteer. For many years she devoted one-two days a week to her church acting as a receptionist. In addition, she volunteered at the Mission Mill Museum. She served three terms on the board of directors, as well as working in other areas of the museum. For several years she worked in the flower garden display at the State Fair; she was also a “regular” for many years at the Elsinore Theater where she took tickets and greeted the public. She was very involved in the Neighborhood Watch program in her neighborhood and kept a close eye on the welfare of her “elderly” neighbors. She was always willing to help out, work for various causes and be available to her family at any time – in short, she “did herself proud.” 

Berniece was known for her boundless energy, outgoing personality, wisdom and “plain speak.” Her absence will always be felt by those who knew and loved her. (Obituary – Statesman Journal 21 Aug 2008, p 15) 

           Shaw, Berniece H Mrs emp TKWMCo h 497 S 18th 

1949  Shaw, Berniece H Mrs clk TKWMCo r RD8 bx 344 

1951  Shaw, Berniece H Mrs ret clk TKWMCo h180 N 23d 

1953-54  Smith, Alf W (Bernice H) lab h295 N 23d 

                 Smith, Berniece H clk Thos Kay Woolen Mill r295 N 23d 

1960  Smith Bernice H Mrs clk Thomas Kay Woolen Mill r1205 Summer NE 

1966  Smith Bernice H Mrs clk Thos Kay Woolen Mill r1205 Summer St NE 

1971  Smith, Alf W (Berniece H) constn wkr City Dep of Utilities h1205 Summer St. NE 

           Smith, Berniece H Mrs slwn Kay Woolen Mill Store r1205 Summer St. NE 

1974  Smith, Alf W (Berniece H) constn wkr City Dep of Utilities h1205 Summer St. NE 

           Smith, Berniece H Mrs slswn Kay Woolen Mills Store r1205 Summer St. NE 

1975  Smith, Alf W (Berniece H) constn wkr City Dept of Utilities h1205 Summer St NE 

           Smith, Berniece H Mrs slswn Kay Woolen Mills Store r1205 Summer St NE 

1977  Smith, Bernice H rs slswn Kay Woolen Mills Store h1205 Summer St NE 

1988  Smith, Berniece H Mrs retd h707 Madrona Av SE Apt 208 

1930  Bernice Hand. Age 16. Birth Year: abt 1914. Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1930: Calappoia, Douglas, OR. Single. Daughter to HOH. Father born in South Dakota. Mother born in Oregon. Additional household members: Alfred H Hand, 40. Pearl Hand, 38. Oswald Hand, 18. Elois Hand, 10. 

1940  Bernice Shaw. Age 25. Birth Year: abt 1915. Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1940: Myrtle Point, Coos, OR. Inferred Residence in 1935: Roseburg, Douglas, OR. Married. Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year. No occupation listed. Additional household members: Dudley Shaw, 32. Bernice Shaw, 25. Ronald Shaw, 5. Sandra Shaw, 3. 

Statesman Journal 8 May 1990 p 17. Salem woman enjoys volunteering 

Statesman Journal 21 Aug 2008 p 15. Berniece H. Smith Obituary 

MMMA.011.0015.072    Slide Photo 

M3 1994-016-0014          Oral History Interview (Bernice Smith)