Rita Smart Mayo, 90, passed away peacefully January 20, 2016 at her home on Lake Winnipesaukee after a short illness, with family by her side. She was born on March 6, 1925 in Laconia, NH, the daughter of the late Chester L. Smart, MD and Eula Douglas Smart, RN.
Rita was proud of the fact that her father was a local doctor and surgeon, and was one of the founders of the Laconia Clinic. She enjoyed telling stories of traveling with her father around Lake Winnipesaukee as he visited patients, and was with him when he tended to victims of the fire on the paddle steamer Mount Washington in 1939.
Rita attended Laconia High School, graduating in 1943, and received her BS in nursing from Skidmore College in 1947 where she was also an instructor to student nurses at Ellis Hospital. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, and at the Laconia Regional Hospital. She was a co-owner of the Scarlet Ribbons Shop in Laconia. Over the years, she enjoyed her horses, her garden plot at the lake, bridge, sailing, quilling and embroidery.
Rita was a strong-willed woman, and enjoyed, above all, spending her later years at her family home on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Rita is survived by her daughter Bonnie Hewitt of Laconia; two sons, William and his wife Jayne of Franconia and Bret and his wife Kathy of Danbury; three grandchildren, Marc Hewitt, Michelle McDonald and Kristine Hewitt; two cousins Malcolm (Mick) Paulsen of Essex Junction, VT and Julouise Paulsen of Montpelier, VT. Rita is also survived by five nieces, three nephews, five great grandchildren and many more.
Rita was predeceased by her two brothers, Leonard Smart and Wayne Smart, and Wayne's wife Barbara and two ex-husbands, George W. Mayo II and Thomas W. O'Connor.
All are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday. January 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Laconia Congregational Church, 69 Pleasant St.
In lieu of flowers, Rita asked that donations be made to the Dorcas Fund of the Congregational Church of Laconia, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH 03246.