Harriet Vagle “Ellie Cole” Smith, 80, died Aug. 30, 2016.
Harriet started her career as a piano bar player in the early 1960s at the Hopkins House and did a stint at the Purple Tree Lounge in Washington, D.C. She entertained six nights a week at the Regency Plaza Hub Cap Pub in downtown Minneapolis for 20 years before retiring in 1999.
She shared her gift of piano and song at many rest homes, family gatherings and special events, singing to the very end, her caregiver, Margie, seeing to that.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Marion Vagle; granddaughter, Melissa Collins; and ex-husband, Raoul Smith. She is survived by her children, Perry (Mary), Randy (Karen) Collins, Colleen (George) Entrikin, Shawn (Pamela) and Corrina Smith; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Mel (Helen), Ron (Jeanie) and Fred (Anna Mae) Vagle; and ex-husband, Dennis Collins; as well as her music family.
Her family extends a huge thank you to the staff at Lyngblomsten Care Center for the extraordinary care and love she received while living there for nearly six years. Also, a special thank you to MacPhail Center for Music.
Harriet’s life was celebrated Sept. 8 at Lyngblomsten Chapel, with interment at Lakewood Cemetery.
