Viola (Vi) K. Smith passed away at Via Christi Village, Ponca City, Oklahoma on December 12, 2016 at the age of 97. She 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.
She 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.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 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. Her husband Cecil preceded her in death after 69 years of marriage.
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.
Per Vi’s request her cremation will be handled by Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service and Cremation Directors of Enid, OK; her ashes buried next to Cecil and Margie in Butler, MO. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
-
