Mara Smitchens was born in Latvia on April 10, 1939.  She left Latvia with her parents and her brother in late 1944 to evade the Russians, who had broken a pearce treaty with Latvia and committed extreme atrocities during the brief occupation in 1941. (Over 35,000 Latvians died or were deported in three nights.)

Mara was in Reichertschausen, Bermany on the day peace was declared in Eruope in 1945 and , even at her young age, appreciated the joy of not having to frequently seek protection in a bomb shelter.

After four yerars in Diplaced Persons Camp and thanks to the kindness of a Welby Smalley Family in S. Salem, OH, she and her family resettled in the United States.  The sight of the Statue of Liberty on Decembr 23, 1949 was viewed with awe, joy and tears.

Shortly after coming to the US, her family move to Tiffin, OH and her father, Martin, worked for Mr. George Kalbfleisch, north of Tiffin.

Mara married Dale Morton (Class of '55).  They had three children who were born in Pomona, CA.

Mara had attended Ohio State University for one year before marriage.  When the children were older, she returned to school.  She died before getting her degree.

In mid 1988, Mara began having persistent headaches.  She was diagnosed with a brain aneurism that had burst, resulting in an auto accident.  She was operated on was the brain damage could not be reversed.  She remained in a coma for 5 1/2 weeks, died on Decembr4 3, 1988.

Rest in peace, dear friend.