Florine Burgess Smith

Florine Burgess Smith, 86, of Williamsburg, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2015, at Fulton Presbyterian Manor. She was born Lena Florine Burgess February 13, 1929, in Tulia, Texas, the daughter of the late William "Bob" Dudley Burgess and the late Minnie (Timmons) Burgess. Flo grew up on ranches in the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma and graduated from Stratford High School, Texas in 1946. She attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. for one year, then taught school in Coolidge, Kan. for one year. In 1948 she was attending summer school at OPSU when she met a young man from Missouri working on a harvesting team. He continued north with the wheat harvest, but returned in the fall and proposed. Flo married Philip Smith III on September 18, 1948, at her parents' home in Stratford, Texas. They returned to Columbia, Mo. where Phil attended college and built a home in Williamsburg where they raised their four children. She worked as a social worker for the Division of Family Services for 20 years. Flo planted Texas-sized gardens, taught 4-H sewing classes, enjoyed square dancing, crocheting and knitting and doted on her grand and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents and by her son Philip "Monty" Smith IV; brother, Noble Lee Burgess; sisters, Betty Ledbetter and Bobbie Wilson; brother-in-law, Leo Ledbetter and sister-in-law Peggy Payne. Those remaining to cherish her memory include three daughters, Ellen Koehler and husband John of Joplin, Sharlyn Swenson and husband Greg of Rapid City, S.D. and Barbara Smith of Joplin; brother Rex Burgess and wife Jean of Spearman, Texas; sister, Ann Johnson of Stratford, Texas; brothers-in-law, Oscar Wilson of Stratford, Texas and Dudley Payne of Columbia; sister-in-law, Jean Smith of Williamsburg; grandchildren, John Koehler III, Kathryn Harryman, Joel Koehler, Alicia O'Brien, Nathaniel Swenson, Miki Brown and Eliza Smith and 14 great-grandchildren. Following a family graveside service, a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in Williamsburg at the Old Auxvasse-Nine Mile Presbyterian Church. Rev. Jim Cruickshank will officiate. A reception will follow the service at the Williamsburg Community Center. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association, c/o Maupin Funeral Home, 301 Douglas Boulevard, Fulton, Missouri 65251. Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.maupinfuneralhome.com.