----- Original Message ----- From: Elmer Thorn To: Jake Thorn ; Greg Volk ; Tony Thorne ; Beverly Thorn-Davis Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 5:57 PM Subject: Mary Thorn Smith Obit Carthage Press Obituaries September 29, 2004 Mary F. Smith Mary F. Smith, 72, formerly of Carthage, conquered a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, on Monday, Sept. 27, 2004. Mary was born to Elmer and Josephine Thorn on June 13, 1932 in Carthage. They preceded her in death. She was the first of eight children followed by Violet Stark, Lillie Tatum, Velma Mitchell, Ervin Thorn, Sue Carr, Bernice Lynch and Elmer Thorn, all who survive. On December 21, 1951 she married Kenneth Gene Smith at Reeds. They were blessed with three children, Kenneth Gene, Jr., Jerry Dean and Sherri Lynn. Her children and their spouses survive. Ken and Amy in Randolph, New Jersey, Jerry and Tara in Republic, Mo., and Sherri and Danny Perry, Bella Vista, Ark. They pastored seven churches in Missouri between the years of 1957 and 1992. On April 16, 1971, she obtained her Certificate of Ministry with the General Council of the Assemblies of God which authorized her to perform all essential functions of a certified minister according to the laws of the State of Missouri. Her husband, Rev. Kenneth G. Smith, Sr., preceded her in death in April 1992. Not long after his death, she became a resident at Maranatha Village in Springfield, Mo. For the last month of her life she resided at Highlands Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bella Vista, Ark. In addition to working side by side with her husband in the ministry, Mary worked at Big Smith in Carthage and was a school bus driver for the Carthage R-9 School District for 10 years. She loved her family and especially her grandchildren, Christy, Reuben, Ramey, Erick, Deacon, Jessica, and Tony. She was so proud to be the great-grandmother of Emalie, Isaac, Rebecca, Colby, Jacob, Branxton and Andrea. She cherished being the daughter-in-law of the late Rev. Elzie and Lillie Mae Smith as well as the sister-in-law of Rev. William and Lina Smith and Connie Bowers, who survives and the late Franklin "Corky" Smith. Mary will be missed by many nieces, nephew, relatives, friends, and her church families. The family wishes to thank the staff of Maranatha Village, Springfield, Mo., Highlands Heathcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bella Vista, Ark., and Washington Regional Hospice. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Ulmer Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 30 at the funeral home with burial to follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pastors Jonathan Watson and Oscar Johnson will officiate. Pallbearers will be Reuben Smith, Ramey Smith, Erick Smith, Jacob Perry, Braxton Perry, and Tony Perry. Memorial contributions may be made to Maranatha Village, Highlands Healthcare and Rehab, Washington Regional Hospice, and Buena Vista Assembly of God Church in care of the mortuary.