The Big Blue Machine which has a well-earned berth in Bermuda’s Sports Hall of Fame has laid to eternal rest another of its charismatic pace setters.This time it was Gwyneth Ulene Smith given last rites at St. James Anglican Church, Somerset, following that a month ago for her old Silver City coach Rudy Minors. Born, March 9, 1947, she attended West End Primary School and Prospect Secondary School for Girls, in 1958.Gwyneth spent some of her best early years working in the hospitality industry, first at the Royal Hamilton Dinghy Club, a stint at the old Inverurie Hotel and on to Southampton as a Supervisor in Housekeeping Department.She was eulogized by her cousin Joanne Tucker as an outgoing and friendly person, likeable, charismatic. Along with those traits, she was a diva, who knew how to dress. “She was a fly girl, ‘nobody had nothing’ on her. In 1966 Gwyneth entered the Miss Bermuda Beauty, and HELLO! she was first runner-up,” recalled her cousin.During the 1960s the Somerset Blue Birds were formed, and Gwyneth was one of its original members, along with her late sister Thyra, and cousins Rose Hart, Marie Best and Carolyn Best of the Clyde ‘Bunny’ Best clan.During the next several years, the Blue Birds won many championships, including the League and Triple Crown. She was up front with the first Big Blue Machine softball team to leave Bermuda, touring Schenectady, New York. Also she was noted as a most enthusiastic and vocal supporter of the Somerset Trojans.In August Gwyneth suffered the second of life-changing illnesses that culminated in the loss of a leg. ”She gave her heart to the Lord, and Amen, she loved going to church, singing in the choir and worshiping at Allen Temple and never looked back.”Musical tributes were rendered at the funeral service by Allen Temple Women’s Choir, her cousin saxophonist Max Maybury; and at the graveside by Wendell ‘Shine’ Hayward.Among the host of cousins and other relatives at the rites were former hotel industry colleagues, and such softball stars as Ellen Kate Horton, MP Patricia Gordon Pamplin, Rose Hart and Marie Best, with brother Clyde ‘Bunny’ Best.