Sophie Pappas Crosland Smith

BURLEY – Sophie Pappas Crosland Smith, age 93, of Burley, passed away on Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

She was born on Oct. 16, 1918, in Bingham, Utah, the daughter of Mike and Magdaline Rains Papapaulos. She received and completed her education in a one-room school house on their ranch near Lamoile Creek, Nevada, called Panama School. Sophie, her five brothers and four sisters worked side-by-side on the family ranch where they were taught the value of hard work and where Sophie fell in love with the life of a cowgirl. She loved horses and other farm animals and was skilled in working the ground to help provide for the family. She married Darwin Willard Crosland on Oct. 6, 1936, in Elko, Nevada. He died in 1969. She then married Albert P. Smith on Aug. 12, 1972, also in Elko, Nevada.

She lived in Utah and Nevada until 1957, when they moved to Burley where she has since resided. Sophie was hardworking and honest as the day was long. She was genuine and down to earth and was always there for family and friends. She ran Nelson’s Café in Burley for Les and Dewey Nelson for 20 years during Burley’s prime.

On Feb. 5, 1949, she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She always enjoyed her visits with the visiting teachers that came to her home.

She is survived by her daughter and son, Gail Simpson (Dan) of Burley, and Jim “Red” Crosland (Marcie) of Paul; two stepchildren, LeRoy Smith and Julie Smith; 15 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and four of her siblings, Tom Pappas (Beebe), Gus Pappas, Eva Munic, and Mary Chapman.

In addition to her first husband, Darwin, she was preceded in death by her parents; her second husband, Albert P. Smith; five sons, Richard Crosland (who died on Oct. 10, 2012), Robert Crosland, Wallace “Wally” Crosland, Roy Crosland, and Harold Crosland; a granddaughter, Kaylynn Crosland; a grandson, Robert Crosland; and siblings, Pete Pappas, Magdaline “Sis” Sanchotena, Connie Lesboe, Reed Pappas, and John Pappas.

A combined memorial service for Sophie and her son, Richard, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley.

Arrangements and cremation have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home and Crematory Service of Burley.