The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Lassie Smith Wittman, 89, passed away from cancer on December 26, 2023. Lassie was born in 1934 in Walla Walla, WA to Jake Lee and Frances Elizabeth Smith. She graduated from Waitsburg HS in 1952.

Being a farm girl, her Dad asked if she wanted to cook for the harvest crew or drive wheat truck. The cook got up at 5am and truck drivers at 8 a.m., she chose truck driving. She also enjoyed her horses, she was Race Queen in Waitsburg, WA her Junior year and she was on the Rodeo Court in Walla Walla her Senior year.

Lassie attended WSU majoring in Textile & Clothing. She was never far from her Singer Featherweight sewing machine. While at WSU she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority and Fish Fans, a synchronized swimming group. Lassie met her husband, Julius Wittman, from Massillon, Ohio, at WSU. They were married in Walla Walla in 1955 and moved to Cathlamet, WA where Julius taught school and coached for one year. Then they moved to Bellevue where Julius taught for 28 years at Highland Junior HS. Julius passed away in 2001 at age 70.

Lassie's activities included memberships in three Quilt Guilds, a Needle Arts Guild, American Sewing Guild & was a Master Clothier (textile & clothing group), a Cribbage club and was a blackjack dealer for four years.

Lassie co-authored (with Bev Rush) The Complete Book of Seminole Patchwork, self-published a booklet "Seminole Patchwork Patterns" and she designed 12 commercial patterns. She was a vendor at six to seven quilt shows a year selling tote bags, shoulder bags, pocket purses, etc. that she designed and sewed.

Survivors include; sister Jill Smith Wood, three children, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Per Lassie's request, there will not be a service. Donations in Lassie's name may be given to any cancer organization of your choice.