Ethel J. (Mealio) SMITH

SMITH, MEALIO, FLAWS, VANCLEVE, PEARSON, BENNER, TULLIS, FERREE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/14/2010 at 13:30:32

14 August 1884 -- 8 February 1970

Mrs. Ethel J. Smith, 85, died Sunday, Feb 8, 1970, at Bonnell Retirement Community in Greeley, Colorado where she had been a resident for the past two years. She was born Aug. 14, 1884, at Salem, S.D., the eldest daughter of Fred and Jennie Mealio. She attended school in Oregon, Ill., where her parents moved shortly after she was born. There she met and married Ben M. Smith, Oct 8, 1902. They moved to Williams, Ia. where they lived for several years and they then moved to a homestead in the Pleasant Plains community southwest of Limon in October, 1907. They made their home on the homestead until February, 1928, when they moved to Limon. They lived in Limon until the death of Mr. Smith in 1962, after which she spent her remaining time with her daughters, one in Denver, the other in Greeley. Mrs. Smith was always very active in church work, serving as a pianist and vocalist.

She is survived by two sisters; Mrs. Lois Flaws of Bemidji, Minn. and Wilda VanCleve of Chicago, Ill; a brother, Paul Mealio, Denver; three daughters; Esther Pearson, Denver, Helen Benner, Greeley, and Cordelia Tullis, Omaha, Neb.; two sons, Rev. Richard Smith and Rev. John Smith of Rock Island, Ill.; 27 grand children and 21 great grand children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Smith; a son George, and a daughter Pauline Ferree.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Full Gospel Church in Limon with the Rev. James L. Boulware officiating. "Mansion Over The Hilltop", "Whispering Hope" and "The Love Of God" were sung by Mary Garnhart and Amy Halberthier, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. James Carstens. Casket bearers were Emmett Nall, Virgil Westphal, Kenneth Wilson, Paul Akers, Leo Nicks and Wilbur McElwain. Burial was in Pershing Memorial Cemetery with the Love Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

source unknown, Limon, Colorado
ca. February 1970