Obituary for Thelma McSmith

Our beloved Mother was promoted to Glory at Manorcare in Oklahoma City on May 24, 2014. She was 87.

She was the second child born to Bert and Anna (Krulic) Fleharty in Kaw City, OK on September 1, 1926 and was raised there throughout her childhood. Thelma graduated from Kaw City High School in 1943. She then married Jack Pearson. They had three children; Beverly Sue, Linda Lou and Joan Marie. Thelma then remarried a man from her home town in Kaw City, Forest Irvin McSmith and they had two children, Kathy Diane and James Irvin. She loved serving in the name of the Lord helping her fellow man from working at the Ponca City Hospital as a nurse, cooking at hotels and at the nursing home. Thelma was a personal driver for Lydie Marland and the drove for a pilot program for The Salvation Army in picking up elderly and handicapped customers in the Ponca City area until she retired in 1989. Thelma’s heart was to help others no matter what their need was. She was an active member in The Salvation Army, doing various roles as a Sunday school teacher, Children’s Ministry, Assistant Shelter Director and cook. She loved going to visit the nursing homes to talk, read, sing and share old times with the occupants.

Thelma is survived by; son-James and his wife Nancy Elizabeth McSmith of Ponca City, daughter- Linda Lou and her husband Walt Sippel of Gainesville, GA, daughter- Joan Marie and her husband Rick Word of OKC, Son-In-Law James Wayne Chadwick of Ponca City, Stepson- Robert and his wife Janet McSmith of Tallahassee, FL. Sisters; Dorothy Morgan of Morrison, OK, Frances Sanders of Blackwell, OK and Leona Knight of Ponca City. Grandchildren; Julie, Amy, Jody, Rebecca, Kevin, Josh, Veronica, Walter and Lessie. Great Grandchildren; Jamy, Olivia, Sophie, Emily, Preston, Eric and Colson.

Services to celebrate Thelma’s life will be 10:00 am, Saturday, May 31, 2014 at The Salvation Army, 711 S. 3rd St., Ponca City, OK with Pastor Mark Berry officiating.