Edie Beeson Smith Dies At 89

Edie Beeson Smith

Edie Beeson Smith of Idaho, formerly of New York City, died at Blaine Manor in Hailey, Idaho, on Friday, March 2. She was 89.

Born in Four States, West Virginia, on January 15, 1923, she grew up a coal miner’s daughter and upon finishing high school immediately left for New York City. Once there, she attended Traphagen School of Fashion and began her fascinating career as a fashion editor and writer and director of photo shoots. Throughout her lifetime, Ms. Smith worked for Mademoiselle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The New York Times, and Newsday to mention a few. Her wit and sense of humor were quick to come across the page just as her essence of grace and glamour was so obvious when in her presence, survivors said. She continued to write words and schlep clothes for photo shoots all over New York well into her mid-70s.

In 1959, she met and fell in love with Fitzgerald (Jerry) Smith, over a hot fudge sundae at Schrafft’s in Manhattan. They were married a few months later and in May 1961 their daughter, Alexandra, was born.

Ms. Smith truly loved New York: the shopping, the theater, the museums, restaurants and interesting people that crossed her path. She traveled, meditated, chanted, did yoga, created delicious gourmet meals, swam miles every day and had a strong affection for felines. She was quite the entertainer and decorator and when she moved to a rather conservative home in Garden City, she hand painted the kitchen cabinets yellow, black and white zebra stripes. From Sag Harbor to East Hampton, from Amagansett to Southampton there was not a mile of beach that she didn’t set foot on to enjoy long walks and dips in the ocean.

Taking great joy in caring for those who couldn’t care for themselves, both four-legged and two-legged, Ms. Smith spent many years volunteering her time to take care of babies born to mothers with AIDS or addicted to crack cocaine at Bellevue Hospital in New York. She also dedicated her time to God’s Love We Deliver, a charity that provides food for those who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. She loved and took care of her pets, Harry, Cheri, Lucy, Emilia, Mister Kitty, Daisy and Jake.

It wasn’t easy to take the city girl out of the city, family recalled, but in 2005 the Smiths moved to Idaho to be closer to their daughter.

She is survived by her daughter, Alex Taylor and her husband, Ron Taylor of Idaho. Her husband Jerry Smith predeceased her.

Memorial services will be held in both Manhattan and Hailey at a later date.