Betty Jean Smith

Funeral service for Betty Jean Smith known to many as "Mumsie" will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 18, at the First Baptist Church of Claremore. Burial will follow at Oakhaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 17, from 1-6 p.m. with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at the MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Betty J. Smith went home to be with the Lord on January 13, 2016 at the age of 87.

The daughter of Harry and Alice Poe Meeks was born September 29, 1928 in Welch. As a young girl Betty's family moved often following work. They traveled from Oklahoma to California where her father worked in the fishing industry. However as Betty entered into high school, she put down her roots and settled near Porter. She graduated from Porter High School in 1945.

It was also near Porter that she met C.H. Smith Jr.. It was love at first sight. They would marry on January 12, 1946 in Wagoner. They began their lives together working as share croppers south of Porter. After several years in the country Betty decided, she wanted to move to town. So she and C.H. moved to Pryor and began running the Prairie Schooner Cafe. They later sold the cafe and moved to Claremore. The next several years Betty devoted all of her time to her family. However once she got all her children in school, she again entered the working world. While helping in the day care at the First Baptist Church, Betty realized she loved taking care of children. So she opened an in home daycare. This grew into opening the Wee Willy Nursery. She then decided to attend beauty college, and opened the Personal Touch Hair Salon. She owned and operated it for the next 10 years until arthritis began to cause her some trouble. So she moved on into the antique business opening the Frontier General Antique Store.

In her spare time Betty loved traveling, She loved driving to Branson, and the Eureka Springs going through antique stores. She also enjoyed gardening, and raising African Violets. However one of her greatest loves was attending church. This trait is one that she instilled in her children, and still carries on today.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Alice Meeks; husband, C.H. Smith Jr., sister, Carry Ann Meeks, and brothers, George Meeks, Bill Meeks, Pete Meeks, Lesley Meeks and Darrell Meeks.

Survivors include her children, Larry Smith and wife Judy of Claremore, Pam Barker and husband Bob of Inola, and Mark Smith and wife Teresa of Claremore; grandchildren, Melissa Smith, Julie Shiles and husband Scott, Rachel Patton and husband Tracy, Larry Smith Jr., Caleb Haley and wife Sheila, Jenny Smith-Weaver and husband Ben, Emily Bolton and husband Casey, Lacy O'Brien and husband Andy, Joshua Haley and wife Allie, Jacob Smith, Weston Smith and wife Falon; great-grandchildren Haley West, Janessa Smith, Trevor Patton, Madison Patton, Annaliese Smith, Hannah Bolton, Keegan Patton, Conner Smith, Colbie Smith, Wil Bolton, Colton Smith, Caden Smith, Abram Bernard Smith, Grace Weaver, Elizabeth O'Brien, Noelle O'Brien, Bella Weaver, Presley O'Brien, Elijah Haley, Emersyn Smith, Hudson Weaver, Jaxyn Smith, Adeline Haley, Noah Bolton, and Ashton Shiles; great grandson on the way Nicholas Haley; great great grandaughter Kaylin Harrison; faithful niece, Valerie; and longtime friend, Steve Bradshaw.

Memorials may be made to Legacy School or the First Baptist Church Children's Ministry, 107 E. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore, OK 74017.