Inez Smith, 93 years old, departed this life on February 17, 2019 at her home near Bristow after a brief illness. She was born December 26, 1925 near Tahlequah to James Albert Baker and Cleoria Dunlap Baker. She had only a few memories of her loving mother, who died in October 1930, and Inez adored her father who died in 1968. She was reared near Tahlequah. On December 27, 1941, she married the love of her life, Harry W. Smith in Wagoner and to this union were born four children. They enjoyed over 64 years together before his passing on October 23, 2006.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bristow since 1982 and treasured 50 years of teaching in the four and five year old’s Sunday school, serving in that role approximately 20 years in Blackwell, Oklahoma, 10 years in Arnold, Missouri and 20 years in Bristow.
Inez loved her family and was a devoted homemaker who enjoyed cooking, canning and sewing. At various times she was a little league baseball supporter, cub scout den mother, Girl’s Auxiliary (GA’s) leader, member of Blackwell Saddle Club, and participant in Bristow Hobby Club. She loved playing cards with family such as pitch as well as solitaire. Crocheting was her favorite hobby and she crocheted almost daily on items to share with others. She loved to read her Bible and guarded her daily time of intercessory prayer. She enjoyed singing gospel music with friends at church and for the last few years weekly at Shawnee Senior Center and Bristow Rainbow Assisted Living.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harry, son Daniel, son-in-law Delbert Brown, brothers Homer and Wesley Baker, father and mother-in-law Walter and Bertie Smith, step-mother, Beatrice Baker Lemons, and many sister and brother-in-laws. Among those she leaves behind are her daughter, Kathryn E. Brown of the home; sons, James W. (Jan) Smith of Clearwater, Florida and Larry W. (Joni) Smith of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Laura Smith of Land O Lakes, Florida, Jennifer (Marty ) Barrett of Wesley Chapel, Florida, Charles K. (Kelli) Smith of Edmond, Twila J. (George) Heine of Kettering, Ohio and Clayton A. Smith of Houston; three great-grandchildren, Ethan and Addison Smith of Edmond and Emma Barrett of Wesley Chapel, Florida; daughter-in-law Lindalyn Bolden of Bristow, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be 1:30 pm, Friday, February 22, 2019 at First Baptist Church of Bristow with Pastor D.J. Carney officiating. Interment will follow at Bristow City Cemetery.