Smith, Zoa, Miss, 1884-1948

SMITH, WOODS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Rock Valley Bee, July 8, 1948:

Funeral Services Held Tuesday for Miss Zoe Smith

Funeral services for Miss Zoe [i.e., Zoa] Smith, 63, were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Methodist church, with Rev. M. L. Jones officiating. Miss Smith died in the Le Mars hospital on Sunday morning, July 4. Burial was made at the Valley View cemetery.

Miss Smith came to the Rock Valley area when still a small child and lived here all the remaining years of her life. She attended school here, having graduated from the high school some 45 years ago. Following her graduation she taught school for a number of years.

Miss Smith was well known for her love of music and will be remembered for the many years in which she specialized in church music. She was organist at the Methodist church for a total of 31 years and also served as Sunday school superintendent and teacher.

Her father, mother, one brother Delbert and one sister Pearl preceded her in death. She is survived by two brothers, Jess and Cecil of Rock Valley and one sister, Zella Van Horssen of Bigham Lake, Minn. Also surviving are four nieces and nephews.

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From the Sioux County Capital, July 8, 1948, Rock Valley news:

Miss Zoe Smith

Miss Zoe Smith passed away Sunday morning, July 4, at the LeMars Hospital, after an illness of several months. She had been in the hospital a month.

Miss Zoe Smith was born at Holstein, Iowa, on September 21, 1884, and as a young child moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Smith, to Sioux County in 1885. She attended rural schools before coming to the local high school from which she graduated in 1900. She taught school for several years. Miss Smith served as organist in the Methodist Church for many years, and also served as choir director, Sunday School teacher, and Superintendent and President of the Epworth League.

[Followed by information on survivors and funeral.]

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RESEARCH NOTES

From the Alton Democrat, August 19, 1948, Court House news:
The estate of Zoa Smith, late of Rock Valley, was valued at $16,025.00, and consists of a residence in Rock Valley; cash $103.00; U.S. Savings Bonds $10,322.00; household goods $100.00. Estate goes to Jesse J. Smith, Cecil M. Smith, brothers, and Zella Van Horsen, a sister.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Smith, Zoa, b. 1884, d. 1948, dau of Melvin, Valley View Cem Rock Valley IA.

FindaGrave.com confirms her name with a photo of her headstone: “Daughter Zoa Smith 1884-1948,” and gives her parents as Melvin Benton Smith (1858-1943) and Emma E. Woods Smith (1863-1929).

The 1940 U.S. census shows her (as Zoa) and her brother Jesse, a rural mail carrier, living with their father in Rock Valley. In the 1930 census, she, Jesse, and Pearl are living with their father and her occupation is listed as rural school teacher.