Hilda Smith

HILDA MAVIS (FLORA) SMITH

Cedar Rapids

Hilda Mavis (Flora) Smith went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. She was born Jan. 11, 1915, in Model, Tenn., the oldest of seven children. She married Russell Shields Smith on May 2, 1936, in St. Louis, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years; parents, William Pascal and Annie Ruth Flora; siblings, Hazel Flora, Helen Riggs, Harold Flora and Howard Flora; and two sons-in-law, Arthur Allen and Jim Kelly.

She is survived by siblings, Homer "Bud" (Georgia) Flora and Hallie Mittle. Hilda and Russell had three daughters, Judith Kelly of Malabar, Fla., Betty (Ron) Morrow of Cedar Rapids and Barbara (Rex) Mc Creight of Lowden. There are six grandchildren, Kurt (Kim) Allen, Dawn (Ted) Staver, Michelle (Craig) Beisker, Deke (Bridget) Morrow, Tapi (David) Hedger and Kip (Nelly) Morrow; 12 great grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two stepgranddaughters, Sandra (Kip) Esbaum and Patricia (Brian) Jones and five stepgreat-grand-children.

Hilda was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for many years. She was referred to as the "matriarch" of her family. A beautiful and meticulous seamstress, she loved gardening and taking care of her yard, refinishing furniture, antique shopping and writing poetry.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church led by her son-in-law, the Rev. Ron Morrow. Burial: private at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Please leave a message for the family on the website www.cedar

memorial.com under obituaries.