Mary Margaret Smith

Mary Margaret Smith, age 99, went to be with her Lord & Savior on February 18, 2025. She was born in Gridley, Kansas, December 4, 1925 to Russell and Carrie Johnson. When she wasn't at home, she would spend her time with her Grandpa and Grandma Povenmire, where she learned to make cakes and bouquets to give to families when they had a newborn or death in the family. After graduating from Gridley High School, she spent her time caring for numerous newborn babies of families in the community. Her focus changed when her cousins needed someone to take care of them when their mother was away for treatment and after her death; Mary kept the household running for them and her Uncle Frank. She sacrificed her own income to purchase fabric to make skirts and blouses so the older girls would have something more than feed sack school clothes. She made many special birthday cakes for her cousins: clowns, dolls and a Tweety cake to name only a few. She later continued this tradition by baking for her own children and grandchildren, each and every cake was baked and decorated with love and wonderful creativity. Another of her family's favorite was her cinnamon rolls, they were absolutely delicious. In her free time, she joined a square dance group with her brother, Melvin Johnson, which they enjoyed for several years. Mary Margaret traveled with Uncle Frank's family before and after the death of the mother to Western Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma where they visited cousins. She spoke fondly about the memories of Gridley, her Grandparents and her Gridley relatives.

Mary Margaret met Kenneth Smith, and they were married on August 14, 1957 and resided in Rose Hill, Kansas. To this union, four children were born: Zona, Mike, Twyla and Gale. She worked at Rose Hill Schools and McConnell Air Force Base in the cafeteria and later at Boeing in the Parts Control Area.

She traveled to Georgia to attend Mike's wedding and later to Wyoming to attend Gale's wedding. She and her mom also traveled to Hawaii to visit Twyla and her newborn son, Mary's first grandson. She took a train trip with Mary Esther and other family members to Seattle, Washington. She enjoyed the time spent together taking in the sights along the way and in the Seattle area.

After retirement from Boeing, she went with her cousin, Fran, to Washington DC. She saw many sights while there and had an unexpected tour of George Washington Hospital due to a heart problem. It was a memorable trip in more ways than one.

Mary Margaret, in her younger years, helped Kenneth with all the farm work. One thing that seemed scary was her riding a dump rake pulled behind the tractor.

In her later years she recovered from Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever and West Nile Virus at the same time. She cared for her mother-in-law and also her own mother when she could no longer live alone, a sacrificing and caring person her entire life.

She established a tradition for each grandchild's birthday; she would take them out to eat and then shopping. This is a very special memory for each of them. We will miss Mary Margaret (Mom, Nana, Grandma, GG, Aunt, Cousin, Friend) and we are very thankful for the footprint she left on our lives and the time the Lord allowed us to have with her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother. She is survived by Zona Ruth Smith, Michael Kenneth (Debbie) Smith, Twyla Margaret (Richard) Dies, and Gale David (Karen) Smith along with eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Smith Family, 1415 N. Rock Rd, Derby, KS 67037 and funeral service is 2:00 pm Friday at the First Baptist Church,1206 N Rose Hill Rd, Rose Hill, KS 67133.

Memorial has been established with the First Baptist Church of Rose Hill, Kansas.