Obituary for Lillian Mae Briggs (Smith)
Lillian Mae (Smith) Briggs, 89, passed on to her eternal home on Monday, January
13, 2020 at Wesbury United Methodist Community where she had been a resident
for the last four years. She was born on August 16 (her father’s birthday) in 1930.
She was the oldest of four daughters born to Arthur and Edna (Yocum) Smith.
She attended school at Wayland-East Mead, Meadville First District, Meadville
High School and graduated from Randolph High School in 1948. She was a
cheerleader her Junior and Senior years, Vice President and Salutatorian of her
class.
On June 7, 1950 she married the boy next door, Merle Briggs. They shared 48
years of marriage before his death on April 10, 1999.
They raised five children, including a son, who had been one of more than 100
foster children who were cared for by Lillian and Merle over a span of 20 years.
Their children are Vicki (Bill) Bradshaw, Becky (Joel) Abbey, Kevin Briggs
(deceased), Linda Parello (deceased) and Damien Briggs. Lillian was blessed with
nine grandchildren Curtis Bradshaw, Adam (Meggan) Bradshaw, Jason (Samantha)
Abbey, Brandon Abbey and his special friend Michelle, Heather (Nick) Skuban,
Travis Abbey, Nathan (Jennie) Parello, Dan Parello and Brianna (Tim) Collins, 15
great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Additional survivors are her sisters, Helen Waid, Elaine Pratt and Shirley Humes, a
foster daughter Patty Lee and a son-in-law Mike Parello. She is also survived by
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Carlton and Mattie Briggs, a
son, a daughter and brothers and sisters-in-law, Muff Waid, Bill Pratt, Frank
Humes, Frank and Coral (Briggs) Boor, Ray and Betty (Briggs) Wetsell and Barbara
(Briggs) Yanc.
Lillian’s first job was milking cows for a neighbor. During World War II when her
father was serving in the Navy, she moved with her mother and sisters from the
farm to Meadville. While attending high school in Meadville, Lillian worked at the
former Spencer Hospital. They returned to the farm when his service ended and
after graduation from Randolph, she worked in the office of G.C. Murphy Co. She
also worked at Montgomery Ward, Penncrest Day Care Center and as a nurse aide
at Crawford County Home (now Crawford County Care Center). Lillian’s last place of
employment was at Blooming Valley Lumber Co which she and Merle purchased
around 1964. It was known as Briggs’ Hardware when Lillian closed the store in
1999.
Lillian enjoyed collecting all forms of trivia including poems, newspaper articles,
words of wisdom and recipes. She started and hosted a monthly lunch the “Usters”
group in Blooming Valley which included local neighbors who “used to” do this or
that. She enjoyed reading her Bible, solving the daily cryptoquote, word searches
and puzzles.
Over the years Lillian’s community service included being the first woman to serve
on the Penncrest School Board (six years), a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School
teacher, Christian Heart Crusaders, and a supporter/promoter of early local
recycling efforts. For 34 years she and Merle were daily weather observers for
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at Woodcock Creek Lake and received a
commendation from the Corp for their service of providing weather data. She was
instrumental in starting the Randolph-East Mead Alumni reunion which celebrated
its 22nd gathering in 2019.
Lillian was selected to carry an Olympic torch in the torch relay across the United
States for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. She carried the torch in Northeast,
PA on June 11, 1996. She was one of only 16 individuals from across our country
selected from nominations submitted in a contest sponsored by USA Today and was
selected based on her many years and variety of community service.
Calling hours will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ryan M. Warren, 544 Chestnut St.,
Meadville, and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Blooming Valley United Methodist
Church, 24740 State St., Meadville. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with
the Rev. Dr. Joong Wook Koe and Rev. Christine Rogan officiating.
A private burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens will take place with immediate family
at a later date.
The family suggests memorials be made to Blooming Valley UMC, 24740 State
Street, Meadville, PA 16335.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the loving care
provided by the staff at Wesbury United Methodist Community.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Lillian's Book of Memories at www.warrenfh.com
13, 2020 at Wesbury United Methodist Community where she had been a resident
for the last four years. She was born on August 16 (her father’s birthday) in 1930.
She was the oldest of four daughters born to Arthur and Edna (Yocum) Smith.
She attended school at Wayland-East Mead, Meadville First District, Meadville
High School and graduated from Randolph High School in 1948. She was a
cheerleader her Junior and Senior years, Vice President and Salutatorian of her
class.
On June 7, 1950 she married the boy next door, Merle Briggs. They shared 48
years of marriage before his death on April 10, 1999.
They raised five children, including a son, who had been one of more than 100
foster children who were cared for by Lillian and Merle over a span of 20 years.
Their children are Vicki (Bill) Bradshaw, Becky (Joel) Abbey, Kevin Briggs
(deceased), Linda Parello (deceased) and Damien Briggs. Lillian was blessed with
nine grandchildren Curtis Bradshaw, Adam (Meggan) Bradshaw, Jason (Samantha)
Abbey, Brandon Abbey and his special friend Michelle, Heather (Nick) Skuban,
Travis Abbey, Nathan (Jennie) Parello, Dan Parello and Brianna (Tim) Collins, 15
great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Additional survivors are her sisters, Helen Waid, Elaine Pratt and Shirley Humes, a
foster daughter Patty Lee and a son-in-law Mike Parello. She is also survived by
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Carlton and Mattie Briggs, a
son, a daughter and brothers and sisters-in-law, Muff Waid, Bill Pratt, Frank
Humes, Frank and Coral (Briggs) Boor, Ray and Betty (Briggs) Wetsell and Barbara
(Briggs) Yanc.
Lillian’s first job was milking cows for a neighbor. During World War II when her
father was serving in the Navy, she moved with her mother and sisters from the
farm to Meadville. While attending high school in Meadville, Lillian worked at the
former Spencer Hospital. They returned to the farm when his service ended and
after graduation from Randolph, she worked in the office of G.C. Murphy Co. She
also worked at Montgomery Ward, Penncrest Day Care Center and as a nurse aide
at Crawford County Home (now Crawford County Care Center). Lillian’s last place of
employment was at Blooming Valley Lumber Co which she and Merle purchased
around 1964. It was known as Briggs’ Hardware when Lillian closed the store in
1999.
Lillian enjoyed collecting all forms of trivia including poems, newspaper articles,
words of wisdom and recipes. She started and hosted a monthly lunch the “Usters”
group in Blooming Valley which included local neighbors who “used to” do this or
that. She enjoyed reading her Bible, solving the daily cryptoquote, word searches
and puzzles.
Over the years Lillian’s community service included being the first woman to serve
on the Penncrest School Board (six years), a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School
teacher, Christian Heart Crusaders, and a supporter/promoter of early local
recycling efforts. For 34 years she and Merle were daily weather observers for
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at Woodcock Creek Lake and received a
commendation from the Corp for their service of providing weather data. She was
instrumental in starting the Randolph-East Mead Alumni reunion which celebrated
its 22nd gathering in 2019.
Lillian was selected to carry an Olympic torch in the torch relay across the United
States for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. She carried the torch in Northeast,
PA on June 11, 1996. She was one of only 16 individuals from across our country
selected from nominations submitted in a contest sponsored by USA Today and was
selected based on her many years and variety of community service.
Calling hours will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ryan M. Warren, 544 Chestnut St.,
Meadville, and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Blooming Valley United Methodist
Church, 24740 State St., Meadville. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with
the Rev. Dr. Joong Wook Koe and Rev. Christine Rogan officiating.
A private burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens will take place with immediate family
at a later date.
The family suggests memorials be made to Blooming Valley UMC, 24740 State
Street, Meadville, PA 16335.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the loving care
provided by the staff at Wesbury United Methodist Community.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Lillian's Book of Memories at www.warrenfh.com