Maude Louise Smith

Mrs. Maude L. Smith, County Resident 31 Years, Succumbs Friday Morning; Last Rites and Interment on Monday

Thon Book No. 4

Mrs. Maude L. Smith, wife of A. C. Smith, rancher of the Divide community, passed away at 12:00 o'clock Friday morning, October 31st at the Spencer hospital after being stricken with a stroke, from which she never regained consciousness, at the family home at eleven o'clock Thursday morning, October 30th. At the time of her demise she had attained the age of 69 years, 5 months and 12 days.

Concluding services were held at ten o'clock, Monday morning, November 3rd in the chapel of the Peet Funeral home. Rev. Lawrence P. Juell, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Lusk, officiated at the service.

During the service, a ladies trio composed of Mesdames Ab DeCastro, C.E. Marvin and Lafe Culver, Jr., impressively sang "In the Land Where We'll Never Grow Old," " An Evening Prayer" and "God Be With You Til' We Meet Again." Mrs. J. P. Watson presided at the chapel organ.

Rites of the American War Mothers organization were conferred by Mrs Edna Schnorenberg, first vice president; Mrs. Laura Townsend, second vice president and Mrs. Lydia Taylor, chaplain, all members of the Silver Cliff Chapter of American War Mothers, of which the deceased was an active member. Mrs. Lafe Culver sang as a solo, "Crossing the Bar," during this portion of the services.

Interment was made in the Lusk Cemetery with the remains being born to their final resting place by Ed Stigile, Roy Beard, Frank Taylor, Joe McConaughey, Gilbert Brinkerhoff and J. P. Watson.

Maude Louise Lowery was born May 18th, 1878 in Guthrie County, Iowa, the oldest of five in the family of A. T. and Matilda Lowery. She received her education in the schools and Normal training around Marshalltown, Iowa and taught school for twelve years.

On March 6th, 1907 she was married to Alva C. Smith. To this union were born seven children, four girls and three boys.

In 1916 the family came to Wyoming and settled on a farm near Keeline, Wyo., and endured the hardships of a pioneer life. In 1928 the family moved to the farm five miles north of Lusk where the husband still resides.

Mrs. Smith has been a lifelong member and active in the Christian church. After coming to Wyoming there was no church of that denomination near but she has always been an inspiration and help in community Sunday Schools. She was a good neighbor, a faithful wife and patient, loving and sacrificing mother. Although her goal in perfection was seldom realized, she was always hopeful and appreciative of the finer things. Everyone she met was her friend. As she kept and treasured letters and cards so she did her friends, and pleasant memories of her old ones and always gaining new ones.

She always loved to visit, this was one of her chief amusements during her years of failing health. So many times she has suffered a spell of bad health and would struggle for months to regain her health and usual helpfulness. She was stricken at her home last Thursday morning while about her morning tasks and never regained consciousness before her passing at ten minues before one o'clock A.M. at the Spencer hospital.

Only Monday she expressed herself as being so well and happy in the knowledge that all her children had graduated from high school, had married and have families of their own so that her worries were over and she would really enjoy life this winter. In recent months she has been permitted to visit all her children and grandchildren of whom she was justly proud.

She is survived by her husband at the family home, three sons, Avery C. of Riverton, Wyo, Earl F. of Marshalltown, Iowa and Merrill N. of Bakersfield, Calif.; and four daughters, Elsie A. Christian of Hat Creek; Lucille Walters of Node; Opal Boyd of Lance Creek and Ellen Hiatt of Denver, Colo; eleven grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Grace Collar and Mrs. Eva Ackerman, both of California, other relatives and a host of friends.

Thon Book No. 1
October 31, 1947
Services Held For Mrs. Alva C. Smith Monday Morning

Funeral services for Mrs. Alva C. Smith, 69, who died Friday morning at 12:50, were held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Peet Mortuary with the Rev. Lawrence Juell, Congregational pastor, in charge.

Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery. Pallbearers were Frank Taylor, J. P. Watson, Joe McConaughy, Gilbert Brinkerhoff, Roy Beard and Ed Stigle. Music was sung by Mrs. C. E. Marvin, Mrs. Lafe Culver, Jr. and Mrs. Edna DeCastro, with Mrs. J. P. Watson, organist.

Mrs. Smith was born May 18, 1878 at Tama, Iowa, the daughter of A. T. and Matilda Lowery. She was named Maude Louise. She was reared and educated in Iowa, attending normal college and then teaching 12 years. March 6, 1907 she married Alva C. Smith at La Grande, Ia. In 1916 the family moved to Wyoming, settling first at Keeline to farm and then in 1938 moving to the Milburn place five miles north of Lusk.

Surviving besides her husband are the seven children all of whom were here for the services. They are Avery C. Smith, Riverton; Mrs. George Christian, Hat Creek; Mrs. Ray Walters , Node; Mrs. Bill Boyd, Lance Creek; Mrs. Jim Hiatt, Denver; Earl F. Smith, Marshalltown, Ia.; and Merrill N. Smith, Bakersfield, Calif.

There are also 11 grandchildren. Two sisters also survive, Mrs. Eva Acherman and Mrs. Grace Collar of California.

Mrs. Smith has been in a semi-invalid condition for some six years, having suffered a stroke at that time. She remained active however. She was a member of the Silver Cliff Chapter of American War Mothers, of the Divide Tumbleweed Club and of the Christian Church in Iowa. She has always been active in the Divide Sunday School and was one of its officers.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records