- Date Of Birth: April 2, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 11, 2019
- State: Illinois
Lavelda M. Smith, 86, of Virginia, IL, died Sunday, August 11, 2019, at Walker Nursing Home in Virginia.
She was born Apr. 2, 1933, in Beaver, OK, the daughter of Earl and Merle McAdams Phelps. She married Russell Darrell Smith on Feb. 14, 1953, in Great Falls, MT and he survives.
She is also survived by one daughter and four sons, Patti Cave of Springfield, Steve Smith of Virginia, Ronnie (Tacy) Smith of Chandlerville, Jeff (Jody) Smith of Havana, and Brad (Tracy) Smith of Elizabeth, KY; sixteen grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren with two on the way; three sisters, Billie (deceased husband Neal) Reagan of Woodward, OK, Dodie Hill of OK, and Daisy (Howard) McGowen of Kansas City, KS; several nieces and nephews; her “adopted” daughter, Val; and her best friend, Pat Cook.
Mrs. Smith was a graduate of Beaver High School in Oklahoma. She served her country as a secretary for the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Lavelda had always helped run the family farm and later worked as a cook for Walker Nursing Home. She enjoyed square dancing and traveling on their motorcycle with her husband, R. Darrell. More than anything else, Mrs. Smith loved taking care of her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and kids in general. She was satisfied having known that no one was ever allowed to leave her house hungry.
