JOPLIN, MO —
Barbara Jean Smith, age 87, of Joplin, passed away at 4:07 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at her home surrounded by her family.
She was born July 24, 1925, in Joplin, to the late Ralph B. Johnson and Clarabelle Pabst Johnson and has lived in Joplin all of her life.
Barbara married Richard Earl Smith Dec. 2, 1944. He survives her at the home.
Barbara was a homemaker and had an outstanding interest in her yard and her flowers and raised prize winning Irises. She hosted Home Tours for the American Heart Association and for the Iris Society. She had been a board member for the Joplin Humane Society and currently is a member of Chapter GA, P.E.O. Sisterhood and St Paul's United Methodist Church. Barbara and her husband, Richard, enjoyed their world travels, 99 Club, 44 Club and their Dinner Club.
In addition to her husband, Barbara is survived by four children, Richard D. Smith and his wife, Deborah, of Joplin, Steven A. Smith and his wife, Christine, of Webb City, a daughter, Karen J. Smith, of Joplin, and David W. Smith and his wife, Jill, of Joplin. She has 12 grandchildren, Rusty Smith and his wife, Vanessa, Dusty Smith and his wife, Jennifer, Jodi Mouton and her husband, Paul, Laura Rathmann and her husband, Jeremy, Kari Wilcox and her husband, Jim, Brady Smith and his wife, Alyssa, Jon Longenecker and his wife, Stacy, Margaret Prince and her husband, Rusty, Jacqueline Smith, Amber Duncan and her husband, Corey, Spencer Smith and his wife, Abby and Sam Smith and his wife, Kate; and 33 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by a great- granddaughter, Ellie Noel Smith.
Services for Barbara will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Statler officiating. Burial will follow in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with grandsons Dusty Smith, Brady Smith, Spencer Smith, Jon Longenecker, Rusty Smith and Sam Smith serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Parker Mortuary and request that memorial contribution be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Association in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com
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