Monday, July 10, 2017

Obituary - Viola (Vi) K. Smith

Viola (Vi) K. Smith
Viola (Vi) K. Smith, 97 of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away December 12, 2016 at Via Christi Village in Ponca City. A memorial service will be held 11:00 am August 5, 2017 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). 

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Butler Public Library, 100 W. Atkinson, Butler, MO. 64730 or the charity of your choice.

Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Vi was born on August 6, 1919, one of a pair of twin sisters, to Paul and Katie Lee Blevins Hammond at Johnstown, Missouri. Her family later moved to ElDorado Springs, Missouri where she graduated high school in 1937. She attended Missouri State University for one year before marrying Cecil Smith of Butler, Missouri on June 30, 1940. Vi and Cecil spent most of their married life in Butler, MO. They had no children but were fortunate enough to share their home with their niece and nephew during their growing-up years. She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper all her adult life in numerous U.S. Government, county, city, and school departments and loved every job. She assisted her husband in the operation of Smith Shoe Sales and Shoe Repair Shop in Butler until they retired.


She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority since 1957 and also a member of Osage Crafter’s Club for over twenty years.

Vi was an accomplished seamstress and decorative painter. She spent many wonderful hours attending craft shows as an exhibitor and customer, reading, writing poetry, dancing with Cecil, and doing absolutely anything with her sister Margie. Laughter and tears were shared with many.


In 2012 she moved from Bulter, MO to Ponca City, OK to be closer to her niece Jan. She lived as an independent woman enjoying life in her own apartment until shortly before her death.
Vi was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 69 years, Cecil Smith, two brothers, John and Edward Hammond , her twin sister Margery Rutledge, nephew Michael Rutledge, several aunts, cousins, friends, and brothers-in -law and sisters-in-law all to whom she was very close.

She is survived by her nieces Jan Spaulding and husband Allen, Ponca City, OK, Bonnie Lee Sorley and daughter Sherry and family, Diane Miller and daughters Amy and Lisa and families, Katie Rutledge Quaethem and daughters Krystal, Rebecca, and Scarlett , Kathy Brooks and children Bonnie and Jake and families, Shirley Rutledge and families, and nephew Steve Smith and children Taylor and Megan and families, the Whitesell cousins, and numerous other cousins and friends.
It was a wonderful journey. She will be greatly missed.





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