Kathryn Lois Smith

KATHRYN LOIS SMITH

On Friday, June 6, 2009, with aching hearts and an emptiness in our souls, we bid farewell to the "Babe" who kept everyone, who ever met her, aching for one more opportunity to spend extra time with her. "Nonnie's kitchen at the Smith Ranch was a well known haven, where never a stranger entered, and all were trapped by Hard Toast and a home filled with love and sustenance for the soul. "Nonnie", or "Babe", didn't have to answer much to her given name of Kathryn, in the same sort of way we never call our own mothers by the name given them by their parents. It is a well known fact that "Nonnie" would travel anywhere, anytime, to watch her children and grandchildren, blood kin or just plain kin, play. She loved sports, and proved it by attending Iraan football games and summer baseball games past her 90th birthday. If you thought for a moment, due to the overabundance of love showered upon you, that Babe was not a competitor, sit down with her at one of her favorite card games or drag out a set of dominoes for some "42" and prepare to get whupped. There were many questions answered about the loudest fan at sporting events she attended. She loved to visit, and if you weren't in her house, she was on the phone, dialing one of the many hundreds of her best (they were all her best) friend's memorized phone numbers, checking on every last detail of her flock. Babe's recollection of the people and families raised in her part of the Pecos River valley was to be envied. She fiercely loved her family, the way she loved her Olin, all out, no questions asked, and would stand toe to toe with the devil himself to prove it. Her family and friends will cherish the many memories and years they were so blessed to spend with her and she will never ever be forgotten. She was born on the 27th day of August, 1918, in Sanderson, Texas, to Fayette and Kate Wise. Kathryn was preceded in death by her best friend and love of her life, Olin Aubrey Smith, to whom she was married May 26, 1937. She is survived by two daughters, Mary Lois Coots and her friend Daryle Coates and Oleta Kate Patterson; six grandchildren and their spouses, Lloyd Jr. and Dani Coots, Roger Coots, Olin and Kathleen Kennedy, Clayton and Stormi Kennedy, Kelly and Lorrie Kennedy, and Shirley and Jeffery McMahon; l5 great-grandchildren, Calen Coots, Whitney and Haley Coots, Robert, Colleen and Colton Kennedy and Shanna and Jonathon Tidwell, Dean and Hagen Kennedy and Savannah Pendergrass, Patsy and Michael McQuitty and Will and Joe Kennedy, Dustin and Sean McMahon; one great-great-grandchild, Carli McQuitty; one more great-great-grandchild, baby Tidwell, a few days away; and countless other family and friends. Babe was also preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Patsy Mae Smith; her brother; and five sisters, Henry Wise, Edith Slover, India Hess, Weiss Fletcher, Zola Nelson and Zula Wise; and one son-in-law, Lloyd Coots Sr. Funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, in the Iraan School Auditorium and a burial in Sheffield Cemetery with a gathering at the West Side Community Center following. Pallbearers will be Will Kennedy, Dean Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Dustin McMahon, Sean McMahon, Hagen Kennedy, Colton Kennedy and Michael McQuiuy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Iraan Ex Student Association in memory of Babe Smith. Donations can also be made to the West Texas Boys Ranch, or the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home.