Ethel May Smith

Funeral services for Ethel May Smith, 77, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith died at 11:25 a.m., Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at NHC Healthcare. She was born October 6, 1936, at West Plains, Missouri to Clarence Everett Bragg and Rosa Cherry Bragg.  On July 23, 1959, she was married at West Plains, Missouri to Forrest Junior Smith, who preceded her in death on February 26, 2013. Mrs. Smith played the piano for over sixty years at numerous churches, singings, weddings and for the local group “Soul Purpose” which included her daughter, Charlotte, Shelley Surface and Lisa Eades and also sang on Channel 38TV.  She did babysitting with lots of precious kids and in earlier years did ironing for people.  Mrs. Smith also worked at the International Shoe Factory for a number of years before its closing.  She enjoyed quilting and word search puzzles.  Mrs. Smith was a Christian, had been a Sunday School teacher for many years and attended China Union Church and previously attended Trinity Worship Center.

She is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Smith, West Plains, Missouri and Juna Rice, husband, Shane, Norwood, Missouri; five grandchildren, Ian, Ivy, Lea, Timber and Annah Rice, Norwood, Missouri; one brother, Robert Bragg, wife, Bobbi, Sibley, Missouri; two sisters, Nellie Brickey, husband, Delbert, Batesville, Arkansas and Edith Surface, husband, Gayle, Pomona, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and a grand host of friends.

Her parents, husband, one daughter, Rebecca, three brothers, Clarence Everett Bragg, Victor Eugene Bragg and wife, Mary and John Bragg and wife, Ellen and two infant sisters, precede her in death.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideon Bible Society, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.