Geneva H. Smith

Geneva H. Smith, 94, Lake Tapawingo, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2003 at the Independence Regional Health Center. Geneva Helen Haden was born of Godly parents, William E. and Dona Clark Haden on August 3, 1908 in Knob Noster, MO. She was a life-long member of the RLDS/Community of Christ Church with current membership at the East 39th Street Congregation. She attended Graceland College, Lamoni, IA and the Independence Sanitarium School of Nursing in Independence. She worked as a Registered Nurse in the Independence area for more than 50 years. She held the honor of being a special duty nurse for a number of the prophets and members in high standing of her church. She retired from nursing in her mid 70�s and did volunteer work at Truman East for a number of years. She was united in marriage on October 5, 1936 in Buckner, MO to Allen Carlos Smith. After 39 years of marriage he preceded her in death on July 11, 1975. She was also preceded in death by a brother, William Haden, a sister Juanita Martin and a grandson Samuel Carlos Baker. During their retirement years Geneva and Carlos, with his brother and wife, Ward & Velma Smith, will long be remembered for their commitment to building churches and for the ministry they provided throughout the United States. Geneva is survived by three daughters and three sons-in-law: Sara Jean and Kenneth Callaghan of Lake Tapawingo; Shirley Ann and Garland Brooks of Lake Tapawingo; and Jacqueline Inez and Edward Crawford of Independence, MO. Five grandchildren, Beth Sears, Kelly Cook, Michael Callaghan, Heather Osterhaus and Fawn McDonald and sixteen great grandchildren. Always mindful of her proud/blessed Cherokee Indian heritage, Geneva has chosen cremation and no funeral service to be scheduled. A life celebration will be scheduled in her honor at a later date.