Oct. 1, 1953 - June 10, 2008

Lolly passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of June 10 holding the hand of the love of her life, her husband Frank. She was 54. Lolly was born Laura Ann Smith on Oct. 1, 1953, in Glendale, Calif., to James W. and Harriet M. Rich Smith. She spent her early childhood years in Glendale and Placerville, Calif., and at Fisherman's Camp, the family's fishing resort on the Luckiamute River near Hoskins, where she and her siblings spent countless hours playing, swimming, fishing and helping run the family business.

Lolly followed in her parents' footsteps making music an integral part of her life. She won a scholarship for clarinet while in junior high and played first chair in band. She started transcribing and playing songs on the guitar at an early age. She had a lovely, high voice and a rare talent for finding the most pleasing harmony to any melody. Along with clarinet, recorder and guitar she also played mountain dulcimer and performed with sisters Teresa and Sandy at folk events and coffee houses. In the 1970s, Lolly was in the Corvallis-based all-ladies band "Ladies Night Out," and with sister Sandy in the duo "Sisters of the Sun," known for their unique blending and harmonizing with two dulcimers and voices. Playing numerous gigs at weddings, coffee houses, and the Best Cellar, they also had the honor of opening for Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys and for folk legend Elizabeth Cotton. They were also invited to perform at the Folk Life Festival at the 1974 Spokane World's Fair.

In 1974, Lolly met and married her soul mate, Frank Gast. In 1976, they had a daughter, Anneliese Barbara, born at home in Corvallis; in 1980, a son, Wyman Lee "Bo," born at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville. Frank, being a "hands-on" dad, delivered both. Frank and Lolly were strong advocates of Dr. Frederick Leboyer's birthing technique which helps newborns begin life without pain, confusion or fear.

In 1978, they moved to Prineville where Lolly continued to perform as a single at weddings and as a duo with various musical friends. Lolly also joined Frank in real estate and in a short time they opened their own business, High Desert Realty. They operated High Desert Realty until moving back to Corvallis in 1997, where they co-managed Grass Roots Books & Music. While at Grass Roots they were offered the opportunity to become co-owners and managing partners at the Blodgett Country Store in Blodgett, where Frank had grown up. They enjoyed managing the store until Lolly was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 1999. They sold their interest in the store and Frank eventually returned to real estate, joining Town & Country Realty in Corvallis. For the next 81/2 years, Lolly would undergo numerous breast cancer treatments.

Lolly quickly became a guiding light and source of encouragement to other cancer patients. Nurses would seat new patients next to Lolly, knowing she would calm them, offer them hope and show them there could be quality of life living with cancer. She was an original member of the HER2 Support Group, and since 2001 had written 1757 posts, sharing her extensive knowledge of treatment regimens, offering encouragement, compassion, and support to her many friends on the Web site. Through it all, she was continually courageous and uncomplaining. Though the cancer would claim her life in the end, true to her nature she never, ever gave up.

Lolly's great joys in life included: time spent with her family, playing her guitar and dulcimer, singing, reading, bird-watching and spending quiet times with those she loved. She was a talented chef and loved to bake, and was known for both her pecan and apple pies. She especially enjoyed family outings at Fisherman's Camp: swimming, and singing around the camp-fire. If we would all aspire to be more like Lolly, the world would be a better place. She was an exceptionally lovely woman with a genuinely kind and caring nature. Her passing is an enormous loss to all who knew her.

Lolly is survived by her husband, Frank; , Anneliese Gast; son, Bo Gast; sister Sandy Smith and brother-in-law Jack Wolcott; father James Smith, and mother-in-law Cleo Simons, all of Corvallis; sister Teresa King and brother-in-law Jeff King of Hoskins; brother Dennis Smith and niece Monica Smith of San Jose, Calif.; brother-in-law Mick Gast of Prineville; sister-in-law Julie Ramirez of Redmond; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A "Celebration of Lolly's Life" will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at the Lions Kitchen Shelter at Avery Park, Corvallis. Bring food and stories to share.

Those wishing to make a contribution in Lolly's name to a worthy cause are asked to send it to: HER2 Support Group Org., 6973 Mimosa Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92009-5156.