Annie 'Louise' Oakes Hines Smith, age 89, passed away peacefully at Rex Hospital on August 6, 2016. She was born in Faison, NC, to Francis Whitfield Oakes and Mariah Louise (née Drew) on February 23, 1927. She was known to her family as "Ease," a nickname bestowed by her paternal grandfather. She established her decisive personality early on, when her first words were "it's going to rain and turn cold."

Louise was the oldest of four children and relished her home life and family; she and her Dad were particularly close. A mention of her fifth birthday party was placed in the local newspapers. She graduated from Warsaw High School and attended Hardbarger Business School in Raleigh, NC. Louise worked for many years as the bookkeeper for the Duplin County Clerk of Court, proving herself an astute businesswoman. She married Edward Earl Hines in 1946, and they raised two beautiful and kind daughters, Mary Frances and Patricia "Ann." Louise's infectious laugh and ability to "tell it like it is" garnered her many friends and even more admiration over the years.

After the death of her husband, Ed, she found true love and companionship in Woodrow Wilson Smith, with whom she shared a great love for travel, card games, and quality time with friends and family. She told stories of their travel to nurses the day before her passing; recalling that she had drawn the line at driving to Alaska from Wallace, NC, where she and Woodrow lived happily married for 22 years. She loved time at the beach and spent many summer weeks at Topsail Island. She and Woodrow also had a home in the mountains of Sparta, NC. Louise was an incredible cook whose Thanksgiving dressing was absolutely necessary for any family celebration. She was a family historian, who kept her grandchildren rapt with her incredible memory for details and incomparable talent for storytelling. Louise was a proud Yellow Dog Democrat and stayed abreast of local and national politics throughout her life. She was incredibly generous and a dedicated member of Wallace Presbyterian Church, and taught Sunday School for many years at Warsaw Presbyterian Church prior to her 2nd marriage.

Louise lived the last few years of her life at Brighton Gardens, close to her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Raleigh, NC. She was a steadfast example of strength and faith as many beloved family members preceded her in death: her husband, Ed, in 1973, sister, Martha Lee Dail, in 1976; husband Woodrow, in 1998; daughter, Mary Frances Cheek, in 2001; grandson, Clyde Alexander "Trey" Cheek, in 2005; and her brother, Francis, Jr., in 2014, with whom she spoke on the phone every day. Louise is survived by her cherished daughter, Ann Hines Lewis, of Chapel Hill, NC; sister Kathryn Oakes Edwards (Robert), of Winston-Salem, NC, granddaughters, Tricia Ann Brantley (Vance), Anna Kate Anderson (Sol), Louisa Elisabeth Delafield (Matthew), Caroline Cheek-Hill (Martin), and seven great-grandchildren: Jackson, Preston, Jacob, Charlotte, Campbell, Hannah, and Malcolm.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 11th, at Wallace Presbyterian Church, 205 W Main St, Wallace, NC 28466. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Wallace Presbyterian Church in Louise's name.

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Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Wallace, 612 S. Norwood Street or PO Box 339, Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-4005