Violet Marie Smith: Colfax woman remembered with a smile

Violet Marie Smith knew how to make an entrance, often arriving a little late, even from the very beginning.

"I didn't even know I was carrying twins until it was time for delivery," her mother, Patricia Smith, said. "I thought I was done and the doctor said, 'Looks like there's one more.' "

Patricia named the late arrival after both of her grandmothers, Violet and Marie.

Her twin, Valerie, said that while growing up in Endicott, Wash., she and Violet "were inseparable. We did everything together."

They switched places in class to fool students and teachers and played volleyball together at St. John-Endicott Middle School. Valerie said there wasn't a day she and Violet spent apart growing up.

"She was such a happy-go-lucky kid and grew up to be such a loving and dedicated mother," Patricia said.

Violet devoted her life to her two sons, Mason, 6, and Alex, 12.

She studied at Spokane Falls Community College and spent the last four years as a certified nursing assistant at Paul's Place, an assisted living facility in Colfax. Before she was hired, Violet would visit Valerie who was also employed at Paul's Place. It was there she received the nickname "Duckie."

Nursing Director Chanda May, who worked closely with Violet, remembers that day nearly seven years ago fondly.

"She would come into work to see Valerie, and she was pregnant with Mason, and so she was doing that waddle that pregnant women do," May said. "Then we'd see Alex walking right behind her, and it was like she was the mother duck, and Alex was her little duckling."

During the last year of her life, Violet began complaining of chronic stomach pain due to a severe case of acid reflux.

Then, Violet's life was suddenly and unexpectedly cut short. She was found dead in her Colfax home Jan. 6. She was 33 years old. The Whitman County Coroner ruled Violet's death was an accidental overdose of an unprescribed Fentanyl patch.

Fentanyl is a pain killer with a potency 80 times stronger than morphine and is most commonly given to cancer patients, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. In March, two months after Violet died, the DEA issued a nationwide alarm on the dangers of taking Fentanyl, due to its strength.

"Her acid reflux was so bad and she was always saying how much pain she was in, but doctors couldn't figure out why the pain was so bad," Violet's brother, DJ Smith, said.

Valerie said Violet had undergone surgery to fix her acid reflux. The procedure involved wrapping her stomach around her esophagus, but after the surgery Violet's pain persisted.

Violet also suffered a back injury at work, something her sister said happened when Violet was trying to help a patient who had fallen.

"Somebody gave her the Fentanyl patches, but we don't know who," Valerie said. "She had only used one patch before she passed."

Valerie also said Violet was taking pills prescribed to her for her stomach pain and pills a friend gave her to help ease the pain.

"It's something that's really hard to deal with," Valerie said.

Loved ones came from as far as Walla Walla and Seattle to Violet's memorial service. Family members included pictures of ducks on the program and had Violet's favorite song, "Fly to the Angels" by Slaughter, play at the service.

Family members agree Violet always knew how to make an entrance. During family barbecues, Violet would show up late but was heard from a mile away.

"She was known for driving with her music blaring so loudly, usually Def Leppard," Valerie said. "You'd hear her before seeing her and think, 'Violet's here.' "

Violet was so generous that no task was too large if it meant helping someone in need. Terry Madole, a Paul's Place resident, recalled Violet taking her to the store so she could buy shampoo. A few months later, Madole had pneumonia and didn't have a ride to the hospital. Violet was the first to drop everything and help out.

Madole also said Violet would come to work every day and stay late if necessary, fighting through stomach pains, to assist residents with whatever they needed.

"She would literally give you the shirt off her back," DJ said. "I know a lot of people say that about people they know but with Violet, it's the honest truth. She was our Duckie."

Now, her sons have been separated.

Alex has been legally adopted by their grandmother, Patricia.

Mason is living with his biological father in Idaho.

Patricia said Violet's memory is kept alive through her sons.

"I see Violet every day in Alex, it's amazing," Patricia said. "She's gone but will always be in our hearts and minds."

Dominique Wald can be reached at (208) 883-4628, or by email to dwald@dnews.com.

This is the 17th in a yearlong series of "Too Young" stories, which celebrate the lives and examine the deaths of those few who die in Whitman and Latah counties before reaching 50 years of age.