Betty Smith (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Betty Jean (Baxter) Wethington Smith was born December 14, 1925, in Beardstown, Illinois to Wayne and Nola (Himes) Baxter. She departed this world on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, in Northridge Place in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-three years, two months, and five days.
She was eight years old when her mother passed away, so she was raised by her grandparents, Charles and Alta Himes.
Betty attended school at Beardstown where she was active as a cheerleader and played clarinet in the school band. She also loved to bowl, play tennis, roller skate, and ride bicycles. She graduated from Beardstown High School in 1943.
She married John Wethington on January 19, 1945, and had one daughter, Susan. They moved several times due to John’s health issues and finally settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Betty took a job at Paulo Products Company in January of 1960. Her loving husband, John, passed away on May 25, 1984, and Betty retired in June of 1985.
On November 28, 1987, Betty married Robert J. “Bob” Smith and together they moved to the Bennett Spring area so they could both pursue their passion for trout fishing. Bob passed away on November 30, 1995, and Betty maintained her home for many years, involving herself in the Bennett Spring Church of God, and volunteering as a Pink Lady at Mercy Hospital in Lebanon from 1986 until 2007. She liked to sew and paint on t-shirts. She loved to cook and was always looking for new recipes to try out. She also was an avid reader. Her most cherished activity was hosting a weekly Bible study in her home where she created some very strong maternal bonds with her church family.
Betty moved into a senior residential center in Lebanon in 2010, and lived independently for four years. She would visit with her neighbors, go to the library often and enjoyed the close proximity to shopping. She moved into assisted living in 2014, where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Betty is survived by her daughter, Susan Schreit, of St. Louis, Missouri; a granddaughter, Sabrina Ingram, and her husband, Danny, of Fenton, Missouri; two great-grandsons, Austin Griffen and Ethan Ingram, both of Fenton, Missouri; a half-sister, Alice Baxter McConnell, of Apache Junction, Arizona; a special step-daughter, Sandra Sayer, of Naches, Texas; a step-granddaughter, Melanie Orchard, and her husband, Terry, of Rockport, Texas; three step-great-grandchildren, Justin, Alexandra, and Trinity Orchard, of all of Rockport, Texas; along with many members of her church family whom she so dearly loved.
Funeral services will be Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Holman-Howe Funeral Home. A visitation will follow.
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