Roberta Mae Smith Haeger was born on April 4, 1918 to Hazel Irene and Charles (Rod) Barrett in Aberdeen, WA. She died May 19, 2012 at Careage of Whidbey, Coupeville. She moved with her family to Coupeville as an infant and attended grade school and graduated from Coupeville High School.

Following graduation, she attended Business College in Seattle and then returned to Coupeville to marry the love of her life, Knight Smith in 1938. From that marriage, three sons were born: Karl “Bill”, Steven and Rex. Rex was an endearing little special needs child who only lived for 11 years.

Roberta was a homemaker and farm wife for many years and when her children were older, she went to work for Island County as secretary to the Island County Engineer and also for the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Knight Smith died suddenly in 1970. Following his death, Roberta served as secretary to Pat Wanamaker in Olympia, working in his office as he served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Roberta also had adventures working on the Alaska oil pipeline, transporting pipeline workers under terrible winter conditions, something she never imagined she would ever do.

Roberta was instrumental in the formation of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. The Reserve was formed in 1980, when the Federal Parks Department purchased the development rights to the family property where Roberta, Knight and the Smith family lived and farmed for many years. The ELNHR remains the only park of its kind in the United States. The arrangement left the bulk of Ebey’s Prairie in an untouched state for future generations to enjoy.

While the multi-year process that eventually led to the formation of the Reserve was contentious at times, Roberta was honored to have left such a legacy to Central Whidbey. She found great comfort watching farming continue on Ebey’s Prairie and found great joy in the many visitors who also found the prairie as a very special place.

In 1982, Roberta married Elmer Albert Haeger, who preceded her in death in 2010.

Roberta was a woman of high energy her entire life. She made friends easily and had many from all parts of the Island. She was known for her hospitality and great gift of making everyone feel at home in her presence.

Roberta leaves behind her sons: Karl “Bill” Knight Smith(Renee) and their children Georgie Lea Smith (Charles Arndt) and Charles Smith (Tracey Xu Duo), as well as granddaughters Knight Arndt and Wynter Arndt and son Steven Barrett Smith (Sandy) and their children Jesse Smith (Konni), Todd Smith (Teresa) and Jolie Smith Bartell (Dan), as well as granddaughters Darien Emerick, Emma Smith, Savannah Smith and Brooklynn Bartell, and grandson Gavin Bartell. Her family will miss her very much.

Memorial services for Roberta Smith will be held Saturday, May 26 at 2:00pm at the Coupeville United Methodist Church with Rev. Jin Ming Ma officiating. Rev. Jay Decker of the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church will co-officiate. A reception will follow for family and friends. Private family graveside services will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her husband Knight Smith. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and sign the on-line guest book at www.wallinfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor, WA.