Blanche Michael (Laird) Smith, 93, of Ashland passed away Thursday Jan. 17, 2019. Born in San Antonio, TX, she was the daughter of the late Col. John and Blanche (Michael) Laird Jr and wife of the late William M Smith who died in 2001. As a young woman Blanche worked as an art teacher in Tyler, TX and later as a graphic artist with Niemen Marcus in Dallas, where she met Bill Smith. They married in 1953, and eventually moved to the Boston area in 1963 and was a resident of Ashland, MA for over 20 years. Mrs. Smith was an active member of St. Cecilia's Church and the Ashland Senior Center, and her most recent home, the Carmel Terrace community in Framingham.

She is survived by three children; Celia Smith and her husband William Thomas of Kaneohe, HI; Kathleen Smith and her husband Bryce Ambo of Arlington, MA; and David Smith and his wife Elizabeth McMahon Smith of Needham, MA; and six grandchildren; William 'Hoaka' and Micah 'Kaliko' Thomas; Olivia and Brendan Ambo; and Gregory and Kristen Smith.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Mon. Jan 21st at 9:00am in St. Cecilia's Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland, MA followed by a gathering of family and friends at the St. Cecilia Parish Center. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ashland Emergency Fund, PO Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721