Applause For Lori Smith

     by Dixie A. Walter

   Lori Smith is a remarkable young mother, wife and banker. Lori has worked at the Eatonville branch of First Community Bank for close to nine years where she is branch customer service manager. This summer Lori received the John R. Johnson Memorial Valuable Player (MVP) Award from First Community Bank, which has 19 offices in four western Washington counties.
     Among the reasons for her nomination and subsequent award are: “She is always willing to help whenever she is needed. She has covered for personnel in other branches and provides the highest level of service…She…ensures customers are well taken care of.” Lori is also an active volunteer with the MS (multiple sclerosis) Society, the March of Dimes, Lions, Eatonville Chamber of Commerce and Business Week.
      Although Lori was born in Puyallup, she was raised on or near several Air Force bases including Edwards AFB where the Space Shuttle lands. Lori and her mom moved to Eatonville in 1986, and in ’87 she graduated from Eatonville High School.
      Lori began her career as a banker in 1989 for Puget Sound Bank, and next March will have worked for First Community Bank nine years. According to Lori, “It was the absolute best move I have ever made, and I can’t imagine working for another [bank].” 
       About her family life Lori said, “I met my husband in school and have been married for 12 years on Valentine’s Day. Tom was born and raised in Eatonville; his parents are Carol and Denny Smith. Carol has owned the Hairsmith in Spanaway for many years. Lori and her family live in Eatonville. 
      “We have two wonderful kids. Levi is ten and Summer is six. I also have furry kids; Buddy is our dog and Happy Birthday Kitty. My daughter named him when she was young. She had gotten him for Christmas and she was a little confused thinking he was a birthday gift. We call him Happy for short, and we also have an eight-week-old kitten named Polly.” 
      About a year and a half ago, Lori was diagnosed with MS. She has accepted this major health concern with grace and good humor. Lori explained, “I found a lot of support from my family, work associates, and very good friend Liz. One major turning point in this new change was finding a Website called Jooly’s Joint; it’s based out of the UK [United Kingdom]. I highly recommend it to anyone.”
      Jooly’s Joint ( www.joolysjoint.com/) is an online MS support community welcoming people with multiple sclerosis and those who have family members/ friends with the disease.
       Lori has raised money for the March of Dimes and the MS Society by “generating fundraising ideas for the bank and walking in the annual walks.” She also loves “cooking, going to movies (when time permits) and I have also done some scrapbooking,” Lori noted. This busy young woman also volunteers “for a lot of different community groups.”
      Congratulations to Lori Smith.  She has accomplished a great deal even after life threw her a frightening curve. Today Lori takes loving care of her family, does her job so well her work was recognized with a prestigious award, and she continues to give back to her community.

"Pity the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful."
~Tom Morrow