Lorrine Mae (Smith) Pettijohn

Lorrine was born June 25, 1925, in Lovilia, Iowa, to John and Mary Smith. She was the eldest of 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. Her family had farmland and a coal mine, “Smith Brother’s Coal Co.,” 5 miles outside of Lovilia. It was in high school that she first met her future husband Eugene from Bussey, Iowa. He was home on leave during WW II and looking for a pen pal. Upon high school graduation, Lorrine and her younger sister Dorothy moved to Des Moines, Iowa, looking for work and when the war was over, Eugene and Lorrine had their first date. Soon after, they were married on December 12, 1946, at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. Together they had 2 children, Stephen and Rhonda. After 66 years of marriage, Eugene passed away in 2012.

In 1953, Eugene and Lorrine sold their home in Des Moines and moved to southern California. In 1963, they moved to Aurora, Colorado, where they lived until 2008 when they moved to Gustine, Texas, to be closer to family. Lorrine worked as a secretary most of her life. She retired at age 54 from the Suburu Corp. She loved fishing, boating, helping out on hunting trips and cooking the game, camping, traveling, and attending the 13th Airborne Division Association Annual Reunions with Eugene. She loved to spoil, laugh with and at her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made them feel like they were the greatest comedians in the world! She was well known for the candy bag in her very large purse and for the “goodies table” in her kitchen that was always well stocked with donuts, cookies, and candies. You could always count on her for a smile and a “listening ear.”

Lorrine was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dublin, Texas.

She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Nicholson and husband, Greg; granddaughters, Audra Powell and husband, Clint, and their children, Jade, Ellie, and Liam, and Melissa Burnham, and husband, Joseph, and their children, Blaise, Gemma, and Leo; grandson, Ian Nicholson and his children, Ginger and Kolbe; granddaughter, Saundra Dygert and husband, Bill, and their children, Sara and Allie; grandson, Mike Pettijohn and his children, Natalie and Jessie; she is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Dorothy Pinegar, Alfred Smith, and Lee Smith, son, Stephen, and grandson, Christopher Pettijohn. 

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