Lois Smith

Lois Smith, 99, of Macksburg, passed away February 1, 2015 at West Bridge Care and Rehab in Winterset. A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 5th at the Macksburg United Methodist Church in Macksburg with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., Thursday. Burial will be in Clark Cemetery, Monroe Township, Madison County. Memorials may be directed to the Macksburg United Methodist Church. Lois Rose Denney was born June 2, 1915 in Dodge Township of Union County, the daughter of Ray and Floy (Smith) Denney, and was raised in that happy, loving, Christian home. They soon moved to Grand River Township in Madison County. Lois graduated from Macksburg High School in 1933. She attended Creston Community College and was a teacher in the rural schools of Madison county until she married, whereupon she was not allowed to teach. She always held that experience and those students dear to her heart. She married Gene Rogers Smith on Dec. 1, 1937, at the home of her parents, by Rev. Summerbell from the Macksburg United Methodist Church. Gene passed away in August, 1985. They farmed in Grand River and later Monroe Townships. Lois was a 4-H member in high school and later became a 4-H leader. She worked for several years as a cook in the Winterset schools, a job which she loved. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and a member of the Needle Craft Club, and the Mums Club. As many farm women of her time, she worked hard indoors and out. Washing and ironing was an all-day job. With no plumbing she had to carry all the water to the house to do the wash, and all the water out when it was done. In order to iron, she heated the flat iron on the cookstove as they didn’t get electricity until 1949 or 50. She helped Gene in nearly everything, driving the tractor, milking cows every morning and night, and hand-pumping and hauling water in milk cans for the cows. She also rendered lard, made lye soap, churned butter, and had a big garden and canned much of what she raised, and she almost always had a pie or a chocolate cake ready for her family to devour. She loved her family and friends. She also enjoyed nature, traveling, poetry, geography, and visiting with people. After Gene passed away, Lois was able to travel, going to Colorado, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, on a cruise and land trip to Alaska, on a bus trip to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and more recently with a Westbridge group, to the Omaha zoo. A few years ago she moved to an independent living apartment at Westbridge Care and Rehab and later to the care center. While Lois was a resident there, a man was removing shrubs from around the building with a Bobcat. The activities director asked her if she would like to drive the Bobcat? She immediately said YES! She was about 96 years old at the time. Her incredible memory stayed with her to the end. In her struggle during her last weeks she remained faithful and hopeful in her Lord Jesus and for the place that he has prepared for her in Heaven and His promise to come for her and take her there. She is survived by a son Jim (Nancy) Smith of Macksburg, and their children Teresa (John) O'Connor of San Diego, CA, Todd (Kathy) Smith of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Amy (Jim) Malkames of Olympia, WA; and by a son Denney (Marilyn) Smith, of Watseka, IL, and their sons Justin Smith (fiancée Brandi Kenney) of Bloomington, Illinois, and Nathan (Becky) Smith of Savoy, IL; as well as nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister Arlene Smith.