Fredrica B. (Kelly) Smay (1851-1932)

KELLY, SMAY, BOBO, FRY, KLINGENSMITH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/15/2021 at 18:19:36

From Nevada Evening Journal August 50, 1932 (page 1)

PIONEER WOMAN CALLED BY DEATH

MRS. FREDRICA SMAY DIED AT HER HOME HERE MONDAY

Mrs. Fredrica B. Smay, 81, widow of the late William Smay, died at her home 1236 Seventh street, Nevada, Monday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock after a lingering illness.

Funeral services for this beloved pioneer woman will be held at Memorial Lutheran church, Thursday afternoon at 2:00, with her pastor Dr. J. O. Simon in charge. Interment will be in the family lot in the Nevada cemetery by the side of her husband who died February 1, 1915.

Mrs. Smay had been a resident of Story county since 1856 when she came from Indiana with her parents Mr. and Mrs. William M. Kelly, pioneers of Richland township.

Born in Indiana October 14, 1851, she came with her parents to Story county and located on the old Kelly homestead in section 36, Richland township. There she grew to young womanhood as one of a family of 8 children, attended the rural schools, became identified with the Johnson Grove Lutheran church and was married in Nevada to William Smay, son of another pioneer Johnson Grove family, December 31, 1868. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Beckley, a pioneer Lutheran minister.

Mr. and Mrs. Smay had their home for the first two years nearby the the parents of the groom, then moved farther east into Sherman township and for many years lived at what was known as Smayville, where Mr. Smay conducted a creamery and general store.

In 1894 they have up their work there and moved into Nevada where the Kelly family had preceded them and her Mr. Smay engaged in the monument and real estate business.

The parents of Mrs. Smay died 34 years ago this month, at their home in the northeast part of Nevada.

Three children were born to William and Fredrica Smay, all surviving the parents. The are Warren A. Smay of Nevada, Grant Smay of Osceola, Mo., and Mrs. Jennie Bobo of Nevada. The son from Missouri will be here this afternoon for the funeral on Thursday.

Besides these she leaves two sisters and two brothers. The sisters are Mrs. Ida Fry of Nevada and Mrs. Rhoda Klingensmith of Spokane, Wash., while the brothers are Nathan Kelly of Sherburn, Minn., and Jacob Kelly of Swea City, Iowa.

Mrs. Smay was a woman who devoted her entire life and energy to her family and her church. She became identified with the Lutheran church as a girl, the family being charter members of the Johnson Grove Lutheran church and she was always active in matters pertaining to the welfare of that organization After moving to Nevada and becoming identified with Memorial Lutheran church, she also became associated with affairs of the Nevada Charity association and devoted much time to the affairs of this group, as long as her health and strength would permit.

Mrs. Smay was a woman of outstanding character and her death will be sincerely mourned by a large group of friends as well as the members of the family. She was a devoted wife and mother, a kind and considerate neighbor and friend and will be long and kindly remembered.