Norma M. (Wolcott) SMITH

SMITH, WOLCOTT, ROSS, STEWART

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/5/2007 at 09:37:56

Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
July 31, 2007

Peorian Norma Smith passes away at 105

Norma M. Smith, 105, of Peoria passed away at 12:41 a.m. Monday, July 30, 2007, at her residence. She was born Dec. 23, 1901, in Belmond, Iowa, to Sollis A. and Mattie Stacy Wolcott. She married Dr. Owen P. Smith on Oct. 14, 1925, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He passed away on May 16, 1944, in Peoria.

She also was preceded in death by one son, Thomas O. Smith; one daughter, Martha Jean Smith; and three sisters. Surviving are two sons, Robert W. (Jeanne) Smith of Georgetown, Texas, and E. Pete (Jan) Smith of Morton, Ill.; two daughters, Margaret (the late Don) Ross of Sarasota, Fla., and Mary (Philip) Stewart of Peoria; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She attended the University of Iowa. She worked as secretary for 34 years for Champion Furnace Pipe Company, retiring in 1981 at the age of 80. She was a member of Daughter's of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Auxiliary, Professional Secretaries International, Opera Illinois, Daughters of Isabella and Gems of the Prairie Quilters. She was also a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Peoria Heights, where a memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Thomas Taylor and the Rev. John Dietzen officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the Mass at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded. Inurnment of ashes will be in Resurrection Mausoleum. Wright & Salmon Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Church Building Fund, Family Resources Center or The Missionaries of Charity.