Long-time Carthage resident, Stella Belle Rich Smith, went home to be with her Lord on Nov. 15, 2008, while a patient at Desert Valley Medical Center, Victorville, Calif.
She would have been 86 years of age on this Thanksgiving. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, R.B. (Smitty) Smith of the home in Hesperia, Calif.
She was born in Salinas, Okla., to Myrtle and Harmon Garrison, who preceded her in death. One brother, Walter (Junior) Davis, also preceded her in death.
She was wed to Walter Calvin Rich in 1945, and remained so until his death on Dec. 15, 1981.
Although God did not bless this union with children, their home was always open to those needing care and love. They became "parents" to two nieces and remained so until the deaths of Calvin and Stella. One niece, Barbara Rich Buerge, preceded them in death on Feb. 7, 1961, leaving three children for which they provided care in their early lives.
Stella continued to be a mother to Beverlie (Bee) Rich Waggoner, as well as a grandmother in every sense of the word to Bobbie Adams and husband Mark, Willy Waggoner, wife Jill, and children, Demi and Dylan, all of Carthage, and Wes Waggoner, Dallas, Texas, right up to her death. Stella is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Stella was known for her sense of humor and ready smile. She liked to travel and see new sights. Her husband, Calvin Rich, drove a truck many years and she traveled with him. In later years she and Smitty traveled extensively and had many good times. Stella was always youthful and never showed or acted her age until about the last three years of her life. She became a well loved member of Smitty's family and leaves a step-daughter, Shirley Berner, 2 stepsons and families, Lyle and Terrie Rexroad all of Norco, Calif., and Gary and Gayle Rexroad, LasVegas, Nev., plus a host of grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her California and Missouri families and friends. Only the knowledge that she is in a better place and is no longer in pain makes her passing bearable.
There will be a visitation at Ulmer Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at Ulmer's, with burial to follow in Park Cemetery.
Carthage Press
Tue Nov 18, 2008, 02:48 PM CST
She would have been 86 years of age on this Thanksgiving. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, R.B. (Smitty) Smith of the home in Hesperia, Calif.
She was born in Salinas, Okla., to Myrtle and Harmon Garrison, who preceded her in death. One brother, Walter (Junior) Davis, also preceded her in death.
She was wed to Walter Calvin Rich in 1945, and remained so until his death on Dec. 15, 1981.
Although God did not bless this union with children, their home was always open to those needing care and love. They became "parents" to two nieces and remained so until the deaths of Calvin and Stella. One niece, Barbara Rich Buerge, preceded them in death on Feb. 7, 1961, leaving three children for which they provided care in their early lives.
Stella continued to be a mother to Beverlie (Bee) Rich Waggoner, as well as a grandmother in every sense of the word to Bobbie Adams and husband Mark, Willy Waggoner, wife Jill, and children, Demi and Dylan, all of Carthage, and Wes Waggoner, Dallas, Texas, right up to her death. Stella is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Stella was known for her sense of humor and ready smile. She liked to travel and see new sights. Her husband, Calvin Rich, drove a truck many years and she traveled with him. In later years she and Smitty traveled extensively and had many good times. Stella was always youthful and never showed or acted her age until about the last three years of her life. She became a well loved member of Smitty's family and leaves a step-daughter, Shirley Berner, 2 stepsons and families, Lyle and Terrie Rexroad all of Norco, Calif., and Gary and Gayle Rexroad, LasVegas, Nev., plus a host of grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her California and Missouri families and friends. Only the knowledge that she is in a better place and is no longer in pain makes her passing bearable.
There will be a visitation at Ulmer Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at Ulmer's, with burial to follow in Park Cemetery.
Carthage Press
Tue Nov 18, 2008, 02:48 PM CST
Long-time Carthage resident, Stella Belle Rich Smith, went home to be with her Lord on Nov. 15, 2008, while a patient at Desert Valley Medical Center, Victorville, Calif.
She would have been 86 years of age on this Thanksgiving. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, R.B. (Smitty) Smith of the home in Hesperia, Calif.
She was born in Salinas, Okla., to Myrtle and Harmon Garrison, who preceded her in death. One brother, Walter (Junior) Davis, also preceded her in death.
She was wed to Walter Calvin Rich in 1945, and remained so until his death on Dec. 15, 1981.
Although God did not bless this union with children, their home was always open to those needing care and love. They became "parents" to two nieces and remained so until the deaths of Calvin and Stella. One niece, Barbara Rich Buerge, preceded them in death on Feb. 7, 1961, leaving three children for which they provided care in their early lives.
Stella continued to be a mother to Beverlie (Bee) Rich Waggoner, as well as a grandmother in every sense of the word to Bobbie Adams and husband Mark, Willy Waggoner, wife Jill, and children, Demi and Dylan, all of Carthage, and Wes Waggoner, Dallas, Texas, right up to her death. Stella is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Stella was known for her sense of humor and ready smile. She liked to travel and see new sights. Her husband, Calvin Rich, drove a truck many years and she traveled with him. In later years she and Smitty traveled extensively and had many good times. Stella was always youthful and never showed or acted her age until about the last three years of her life. She became a well loved member of Smitty's family and leaves a step-daughter, Shirley Berner, 2 stepsons and families, Lyle and Terrie Rexroad all of Norco, Calif., and Gary and Gayle Rexroad, LasVegas, Nev., plus a host of grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her California and Missouri families and friends. Only the knowledge that she is in a better place and is no longer in pain makes her passing bearable.
There will be a visitation at Ulmer Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at Ulmer's, with burial to follow in Park Cemetery.
Carthage Press
Tue Nov 18, 2008, 02:48 PM CST
She would have been 86 years of age on this Thanksgiving. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, R.B. (Smitty) Smith of the home in Hesperia, Calif.
She was born in Salinas, Okla., to Myrtle and Harmon Garrison, who preceded her in death. One brother, Walter (Junior) Davis, also preceded her in death.
She was wed to Walter Calvin Rich in 1945, and remained so until his death on Dec. 15, 1981.
Although God did not bless this union with children, their home was always open to those needing care and love. They became "parents" to two nieces and remained so until the deaths of Calvin and Stella. One niece, Barbara Rich Buerge, preceded them in death on Feb. 7, 1961, leaving three children for which they provided care in their early lives.
Stella continued to be a mother to Beverlie (Bee) Rich Waggoner, as well as a grandmother in every sense of the word to Bobbie Adams and husband Mark, Willy Waggoner, wife Jill, and children, Demi and Dylan, all of Carthage, and Wes Waggoner, Dallas, Texas, right up to her death. Stella is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Stella was known for her sense of humor and ready smile. She liked to travel and see new sights. Her husband, Calvin Rich, drove a truck many years and she traveled with him. In later years she and Smitty traveled extensively and had many good times. Stella was always youthful and never showed or acted her age until about the last three years of her life. She became a well loved member of Smitty's family and leaves a step-daughter, Shirley Berner, 2 stepsons and families, Lyle and Terrie Rexroad all of Norco, Calif., and Gary and Gayle Rexroad, LasVegas, Nev., plus a host of grandchildren. She will be missed greatly by her California and Missouri families and friends. Only the knowledge that she is in a better place and is no longer in pain makes her passing bearable.
There will be a visitation at Ulmer Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at Ulmer's, with burial to follow in Park Cemetery.
Carthage Press
Tue Nov 18, 2008, 02:48 PM CST
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