Florine Mae 'Flo' Smalley 1935-2003

MICHAELSON, BORTON, SMALLEY

Posted By: Lori Clark
Date: 7/8/2003 at 09:32:51

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service
Iowa City – 319-338-1132

Iowa City Press Citizen – Paid & Picture
The Gazette – Paid & Picture

North Liberty Dateline:

Florine Mae “Flo” Smalley, age 68 of rural North Liberty died peacefully at her home in the loving arms of her husband, Sunday, July 6, 2003, following a courageous four month battle with incurable abdominal cancer.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 10, 2003, at the Coralville United Methodist Church with the Reverend Doug Williams officiating. Visitation will be from 4pm Thursday until services at the church. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Iowa City Hospice, Coralville United Methodist Church Capital Campaign, or the Coralville United Methodist Church Memorial Garden. Online Condolences may be sent for Flo’s family through Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service’s website @wwwgayandciha.com.

Flo was born May 11, 1935 in Garden City, Iowa the eldest of three children to Roy and Verna (Michaelson) Borton. She grew up active in youth organizations and athletics in rural Story County, Iowa, graduating from Milford Township High School in 1952. At that time, Milford Township was considered the most rural township in Iowa. She then went on to graduate from Iowa State University in 1956 with a B.S. degree. For a number of years she cared for her family devoting her time and love to her husband and children. She later returned to her alma mater at ISU to earn her Master’s degree in Counseling in 1967. For three years, she taught home economics and science in the Walnut, Iowa School District. She and her family moved to Coralville where she taught physics and math in the Clear Creek School district for one year prior to becoming one of the original facility members of West High School in Iowa City and later Northwest Junior High School in Coralville as a counselor. She retired from Iowa City Community School District in 1996. Her love of youth and desire to help them develop their full potential motivated her to obtain an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Iowa. With this, she helped inaugurate girl’s athletics into the school system, as both a coach and official with girl’s softball, basketball volleyball and track at the junior high level.

In addition to her career accomplishments, Flo was active in leadership roles in the Counselor’ Associations on the local, district and state levels, a member of the Coralville United Methodist Church, Coralville Noon Optimist Club, Order of Eastern Star, Omicron Nu Honorary Society, Retired School Personnel and the Iowa City Sports Booster’s Club. She was always willing and able to volunteer her time and energy for other activities and organizations throughout the years.

Her family includes her husband of forty-eight years, Merrill; four children, David and his wife, Vickie Smalley of Florence, Mississippi, Lowell Smalley of Pueblo, Colorado, Gregory and his wife, Mary Smalley of Iowa City, and Diana Smalley of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; granddaughters, Dominique and her husband, Daniel Brett of Arlington, Texas, First Lieutenant Sandra Wangen serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and her husband, Captain Scott Wangen; grandsons, Brandon and Ryan Smalley of Iowa City; brother, Arthur and his wife, Donna Borton of Nevada, Iowa and sister, Jurine Borton Moore of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; eight nieces and nephews, plus numerous cousins with whom she enjoyed close relationships.

Flo was preceded in death by her parents.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Flo’s family and her services.