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- Mae Smith of Newland passed away at the age of 84 on June 28, 2018.
She was born in Heaton, NC on April 24, 1934, the daughter of the late Frank and Dorothy Johnson Laws. Mae was a lover of games and stories. For most of her career she worked with children, at both the Banner Elk Child Development Center and Avery County Schools. She taught them the wonders of using your imagination and being creative. Mae shared her love of nature and animals with her students, her children and grandchildren.
Her enthusiasm and passion for nature and camping were contagious. Mae's love for her students was heard in the many stories she shared of their accomplishments and how proud she was of them each time they reached a new milestone.
If you asked any of her grandchildren, they would tell you they learned to know and love fairies, insects and creepy crawlies from observing them with their Mama Mae/Nana. She shared this earth with them, but more importantly, she taught them if they loved the earth and cared for it, the earth would provide and love them back. Mae loved a good joke and she could spin a tale that would leave her audience spellbound. Anyone fortunate enough to spend time with her knew just how mesmerizing her storytelling could be. She could pull you in and make you a part of the story with just her words and animated expressions. You could not help but be as excited about the outcome as she was.
It was difficult to go anywhere in Avery County without a child or young adult screaming out "Hey Miss Mae," or stopping her to tell how much she meant to them and how they loved being one of her students. She was a firm believer in trying and tasting new things in life. Even if she would sometimes scoff at the idea, she would give it a go, just so she could say she tried. If you were playing a game with Mae and won, then you truly earned it. She believed in playing by the rules and if you won, you earned the title "winner."
Mae was extremely proud of and survived by her four children; Daughters: Deborah (Debby) Gwyn and Tonyah Gwyn, both of Newland, and her "Angel Baby," Davie Smith of Heaton; and Son: Doran Gwyn (Elizabeth) of Carmel, Ind. Mae passed her love of reading, gardening, camping and singing a folk song or two on to all her children. Each of them has a special gift because of her.
Her four grandchildren: Candy Gwyn of Dallas, Texas, Shawn Gwyn (Brittany) and Travis Gwyn (Kate) of Carmel, Ind., and Cacee Gwyn (Robin) of Duluth, Ga., spent many hours camping, playing games, watching bugs, walking trails and playing in creeks as well as with action figures, miniature cars and airplanes whenever they had the chance to spend some time with their Mama Mae/Nana.
Mae also loved and cherished her four great-grandchildren: Annelise and Isaac Gwyn-Hutchison of Dallas, Texas, Dominic Gwyn of Heaton, and Ryder and Gracee Olson-Gwyn of Duluth, Ga.
In addition to her parents, Mae was preceded in death by three of her siblings: brothers Coleman and Elmer Laws, and her sister, Faye Cannon.
She is survived by three siblings: Barbara Ann Sparks of Heaton, Lawrence Laws (Lolita) of Elk Valley and Billy Laws (Thelma) of Altamont. Mae loved and admired her siblings. She lovingly shared stories of their lives together. Mae was also blessed with many loving nieces and nephews.
She was a native of Avery County, living in several other states, she returned to the mountains she loved and raised her family here, enjoying her career working with children.
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1934 - 2018 (84 years)
