Violet Virginia (Trembly) Smith/Relph

Violet Virginia Trembly was born on a Kansas Farm Southwest of Haigler in Cheyenne County Kansas on May 1, 1930 to Floyd Benjamin and Mattie Estella (Douglass) Trembly. She passed away on May 8, 2018.

Violet attended Grandview Country School. She graduated in 1947 from Haigler High School just after her folks had bought the Trembly Grocery.

Violet married Gilbert Arthella Smith on May 21, 1948 in Benkelman, Nebraska at the Court House. They lived in Haigler, Nebraska. On February 1, 1949, Violet was given the substitute clerk job at the Haigler Post Office and on July 1, 1967 she was appointed the postmaster at the Haigler Post Office, a job she dearly loved. Gilbert worked at various jobs. Mainly he did contract labor, hauling mail for the Post Office, and as a meat cutter at the Trembly Grocery. Violet and Gilbert were blessed with two sets of twins, LaVonne and LaVoine in 1951 and LaVern and LaVeta in 1955. Due to a heart ailment, Gilbert passed away on August 2, 1969.

On March 12, 1971, Violet married Willard Relph at the United Methodist Church in Haigler, Nebraska. When she married Willard, she added another son, Jim Relph and another set of twins, Janice and Julia Relph to her family. They attended the United Methodist Church in Haigler, Nebraska. They lived on a farm outside of Haigler, Nebraska. Violet continued working as a Post Master for the Haigler Post Office. Willard farmed after retiring as a track laborer from the Burlington Northern Railroad for twenty years.  Due to a heart attack, Willard passed away on March 22, 1989.

Violet continued working for the Haigler Post Office for 48 years, when she retired due to health problems. When she began, Violet served under the postmaster Dorothy “Maude” Porter who a year later, was replaced by Belle MacGregor. Throughout the years, Violet’s duties did not change very much. As a clerk, she sorted the mail and worked the counters. When asked about the changes she has seen throughout the years of the postal service evolution, she said “I took everything as it came and enjoyed every day of it.” Violet has been a lifelong resident of Haigler. She never lived anywhere else. Her duties with the post office have allowed her to meet most everyone who, at one time or another, has called Haigler their home. She retired on August 1, 1997. After retirement, she enjoyed time spent in her flower garden and time with her family. Violet also helped LaVonne after retirement at The Family Market greeting customers, checking out customer orders, stocking shelves and other duties as needed. When Violet worked at the store, she always said I work a little and visit a lot.  Violet was very family oriented and loved each and every one of them. She loved spending time with them on all the different family gatherings such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, reunions, etc. She was very proud of each and every one of them. She loved to cook for the family and was a really good cook. Everyone that got to know Violet, dearly loved her. She was a people person and loved to visit.

Violet was preceded in death by her first husband, Gilbert Smith, her second husband, Willard Relph, her parents, Floyd and Mattie Trembly, her brother, Verle (Stub) Trembly.

Violet is survived by her brother, Vernon Trembly and her children, LaVonne Jaeger from Haigler, Nebraska; LaVoine Smith and wife Glenda from Burlington, Colorado; LaVern Smith and wife Laura from Haigler, Nebraska; LaVeta Blecha and husband Tim from Superior, Nebraska; Janice Twiss and husband Steve from Wray, Colorado and Julia Siegrist and husband Sean from Wray, Colorado; and Jim Relph and wife Chris from McCook, Nebraska. She is survived by several grandchildren, great grandchildren and even a great, great grandchild, plus many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at the Haigler United Methodist Church in Haigler, Nebraska with Pastor Terry Douglass officiating. Inurnment will be in the Haigler Cemetery in Haigler, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post #134, 135 N. Porter Avenue, Haigler, NE 69030 or to the Cornerstone Center, 251 E. Norman Street, Haigler, NE 69030. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street in Wray, Colorado is in charge of arrangements.