Obituary for Rosa Lee Smith
Rosa Lee Smith, 90, of Lewiston, Idaho formerly of Pekin, Illinois passed away Saturday October 6, 2012 in Lewiston, Idaho. She was born in a farm house in Fiatt, Illinois in Fulton County to John Phillip and Elsie Dick on November 7, 1921. She married Maurice Dean Smith on June 26, 1943. Rosa Lee graduated from Manual High School and Brown Business College and then worked as a welder in WWII at Caterpillar Inc. After raising eight children, four who were her husband's siblings and four of her own, she worked as a telephone operator for Central Telephone of Pekin and a playground supervisor at Stark School. Many years were spent as a den mother for pack 93 at Douglas School, (cub, boy and brownies scouts) and was a member of the Home Extension and 4H leader. After retirement she and her husband became dorm parents for Fellowship Baptist College where they were preparing for the mission field. After moving to Standing Rock, New Mexico they became assistant missionaries to the Navajo under Pastor Neal Forrester where they honored her with the name "Grandma to the Navajo". Rosa Lee fulfilled a lifelong dream and traveled to the Holy Land and also traveled to Ireland to attend her granddaughters wedding. She enjoyed reading, painting flowers, cake decorating, and spending time in the mountains with her daughter and family. After the death of her husband, she spent ten years continuing her work on the mission in New Mexico and in 2003 she moved to Lewiston, Idaho where she died October 6, 2012. Surviving are her four children Donald Smith (wife Pam), Lester Smith (wife Debbie), and Michael Smith (wife Betty) all of Pekin and Mary Orr (husband Ron) of Lewiston, Idaho. Also surviving are two brothers and a sister - Bernard Dick of Pekin, John Daniel Dick of Deer Creek, and Marjorie Coulter of Owens Crossroads, Alabama. She is survived by four grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a great great grandson. Her husband, two grandchildren, and sister predeceased her; they are Maurice Dean Smith, Donald Andrew Smith, Rhonda Orr, and Dolly Colwell. Visitation will be held at Abts Mortuary 905 S. 5
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Street, Pekin, IL 61554 on Thursday October 11, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and church services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Pekin 700 S. Capitol Street, Pekin, IL 61554 Friday October 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Neal Forrester will officiate. In Lieu of flowers, donation can be made to: Bible Baptist Shepard Church, 1105 S. Miller Ave., Farmington, NM 87401 Attn: Pastor Neal Forrester.
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Street, Pekin, IL 61554 on Thursday October 11, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and church services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Pekin 700 S. Capitol Street, Pekin, IL 61554 Friday October 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Neal Forrester will officiate. In Lieu of flowers, donation can be made to: Bible Baptist Shepard Church, 1105 S. Miller Ave., Farmington, NM 87401 Attn: Pastor Neal Forrester.
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