Sybil Flora Vernon Smith

Funeral services for Sybil Flora Vernon Smith, 94, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Langston Street Chapel, Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith died at 12:47 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 2013 at the Brooke Haven Health Care. She was born October 20, 1918 at Lanton, Missouri to Terry Des and Mary Jane Wire Vernon. She attended the West Plains High School where she met Rollin Mitchell Smith. They were married on August 27, 1936; she and Rollin were blessed by the birth of their only son, Bruce Mitchell Smith. Sybil was a devoted wife and mother. During World War II, she travelled when she could to see Rollin during his service. After the war, they settled back in West Plains where she worked at Richards Brothers; she sold Electrox Vacuums and Beauty Counselor Cosmetics. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Mother’s Club. Eventually, Rollin and Sybil built the Holiday Inn, the first franchise hotel in West Plains. Later they built the Ramada Inn; and along with running the hotels and restaurants, she owned the Thunderbird Gift Shop.

After her grandchildren were born, she spent a great deal of her time with the boys. Mrs. Smith enjoyed sewing, knitting, auctions, fishing, gardening and had been an Ozarks Medical Center volunteer. In years past, she belonged to the Lanton Baptist Church.

The family would like to mention that Sybil loved the helpers from Westwood Health Care.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Allison London Smith, her betrothed, Bob Williams; two grandsons, Travis Mitchell Smith, wife, Karen, and Chase London Smith, wife, Nicole, six great-grandchildren, Emily Anastasia Smith, Evan Mitchell Smith, Elijah Jackson Smith and their mother, Sandra Knudtson Sanders, Sydney London Smith and Spencer Douglas Gille; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Smith and Gerald Smith; and many nieces and nephews including Jim Vernon, Terry Dunscombe, Susie Davis, Sybil Jane Struble-Joslyn.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, her beloved son, Dr. Bruce Smith, and seven brothers and sisters.

Her presence will be greatly missed by her family and community.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 23rd, at the Langston Street Chapel. Burial will be at the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of The Greater West Plains Area or the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Fund and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.