Mary Juanita Smith

Funeral services for Mary Juanita Smith, 93, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 17, 2016 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith passed away at 11:20 a.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

She was born December 31, 1922, at Trail, Missouri, to William Riley Hicks and Lola Leona Tate Hicks.  She was married to William Alfred “Buck” Ridge, who preceded her in death September 23, 1975.  On May 3, 1976, she was married at Salem, Arkansas, to Jeff Lincoln Gill, who preceded her in death on March 20, 1991.  On December 11, 1999, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Gordon Bernard Smith, who preceded her in death on October 18, 2004.  Mrs. Smith was a cook at Fairview School for many years, worked at Biscayne Market and in the cafeteria at Ozarks Medical Center.  Providing for her family was an important part of her life.  She loved baking and cooking and was excellent at doing such tasks.  Mrs. Smith loved everyone and always said there is no one she didn’t like; she was well known for her loving and giving heart was deeply loved and will be missed by many.  Mrs. Smith was one of the founding members of Cornerstone Family Worship.  She loved attending church functions with her family and friends and enjoyed visiting with everyone.

She is survived by four children, Helen Carte, Ballwin, Missouri, Joan Smith and J.B. Bell, West Plains, Missouri, Larry Ridge and wife, Leslie, Warrensburg, Missouri and Mike Ridge and wife, Janna, New Franklin, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; special niece, Lola Pattillo, who loved spending time visiting her and doing special things with her; one special nephew, Roger Thompson, who visited her often; and several other nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husbands, one son, William Alfred Ridge, Jr., one granddaughter, Stephanie Ridge, four sisters, Pauline Billups, Burnica Thompson, Iretta Young and Lorene Aborn and two brothers, William Hicks and Dwayne Hicks, precede her in death.

Mrs. Smith will lie in state from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or Lupus Foundation and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.