Lois J. Smith

Lois Jeannette (Land) Smith, 96, of Tipton passed away at 5:12 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Tipton where she resided the past three years.  She was born May 18, 1921 in Farmland, Indiana to Joseph and Ethel (Harvey) Land.  Joseph was a Methodist pastor and served in several Methodist churches in central Indiana, including Goldsmith where the family moved when Lois was 14.

Lois graduated from Goldsmith High School in 1939 and married Clyde A. Smith on October 25, 1940.  Clyde preceded her in death in 2001.  They lived most of their married life in Tipton County-in the Goldsmith / Tetersburg community and in Tipton.

While Clyde was serving in the military in WWII, Lois worked at the Oakes factory in Tipton and in later years she managed the family owned laundromat in Kokomo.  Most of her life has been focused on being a devoted wife and mother.  She enjoyed sewing, music, baking, crafts, and writing poems for special family and friend events.  She was a long time member of Goldsmith United Methodist Church and served as president of the Methodist women’s group, youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, choir member, and on various other committees.

She and Clyde enjoyed family vacations, traveling, sightseeing, boating, and winters in Winter Haven, Florida.  Lois demonstrated a spirit of generosity and gentleness and exemplified the spiritual gift of hospitality.  She lived her life intent on being kind and thoughtful, doing what is right, and serving God and others.

Lois is survived by her three children, Conita Smith Maynard of Tipton, Keith A. Smith (Jan) of Tipton, and Gay Smith Escobar (Victor) of Champaign, Illinois; four grandchildren Alyssa Maynard McCool (Chad), Scott A. Woods (Joelle), Shanna Smith Haecker (Robert), and Kreigh A. Smith (Stephanie); eight great-grandchildren, Max and Will McCool, Kellen and Keaton Woods, Eli Haecker, Kaden and Garrett Smith; one sister, Neva Yust of Anderson; three sisters-in-law Joyce Frese, Hilda Smith and Betty Land.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Madeline (Childs) Land, siblings Joseph A. Land, Jr., Miriam Stoops, Arno C. Land, Byron C. Land and son-in-law Bill Maynard.

Funeral services for Lois will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 4 at Goldsmith United Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Richey and Rev. Evan Strong presiding.  Burial will follow in Tetersburg Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home and from 10:00 until time of the service Monday at the church.

Memorial contributions in Lois’ honor may be made to either the Goldsmith United Methodist Church, 7085 West 100 South, Goldsmith, Indiana, 46045 or the Encore LifeStyle Center (agency sponsoring community senior citizens programming and food pantry), 341 W Jefferson Street  # C, Tipton, Indiana, 46072.

The family would like to thank the staff at Miller’s Merry Manor for their attentive and compassionate care.