Mrs. Sammye Geraldine (Flanigan) Smith of Little Rock, AR., formerly of Corning, AR., passed away at home Wednesday, February 13, 2013. She was 92.
The daughter of Grover and Ollie Flanigan, Mrs. Smith was born on
August 2, 1920, at the Flanigan family home on a farm near Reyno, AR. After graduating from Corning High School in 1939, she attended Draughon's Business College in Saint Louis, MO.
On October 25, 1941 she was married to her childhood sweetheart Howard B. Smith in Saint Louis. Mr. Smith was born and reared in Datto, AR. He preceded her in death in 1958.
Having been a devoted stay at home wife and mother until her husband's death, Mrs. Smith then completed her husband's work for the next four years as Clay County Deputy Circuit Clerk, with offices at the courthouse in Corning. She then worked for 21 years as cashier-clerk for Arkansas Missouri Power Company, later known as Entergy Corporation. She was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Corning, where she was a charter member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class. She held a number of offices in the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club, including the office of President. In 1977, she was selected as the B and PW "Woman of the Year". She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and served as a volunteer at the Corning Hospital and the Corning Nursing Home.
In 2006, Mrs. Smith moved to Little Rock to be closer to her
three children. She lived at Pleasant Hills Retirement Senior Living, where she also volunteered as a Pleasant Hills Helper.
She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Ann Smith of Hot Springs, AR.; two sons James Howard Smith of Little Rock, AR., and Jerry Smith and wife Brenda of Little Rock, AR.; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard B. Smith; parents Grover C. and Ollie Jane (Kenner) Flanigan; two brothers Aubrey Flanigan, G.C. Flanigan, Jr.; four sisters Pauline Gearhart, Glea Davis, Mabel Shaver, and Lorine Hunt.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Corning, AR. Burial will the services in the Corning Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, Febraury 15, 2013 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the Ermert Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 701 W. 3rd St., Corning 72422; St. Jude Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142; or Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, N Little Rock 72116.
Obituary submitted by family.
www.ermertfuneralhome.com