Margery Anne Smith (Laughlin)

Margery Anne Laughlin Smith died on December 22, 2020. She was born in Kansas City, MO on January
15, 1929 to Arthur P. and Dora Kohnle Laughlin, and was the youngest of six children. Her brother Hugh Laughlin and sisters Elaine Allen, Helen Lenahan, Dorlene Mark and Hazel Robinson all predeceased her. Margery grew up in the big white house on Pleasant Street in Tonganoxie, KS. She completed high school at Mt. Saint Scholastica in Atchison and completed three years of college at the Mount before becoming a teacher in a one room schoolhouse. On October 15th, 1951, she was married to Robert M. Smith at the Sacred Heart Rectory in Tonganoxie until his passing fifteen years to the day prior to her death.
Margery kept the home and raised two children before returning to school and receiving her degree in elementary education from UCM in 1970. She then taught second grade in Independence for 12 years before retiring. Margery is survived by her children Janice Anne (Edward) O'Brien of Ballwin, MO and Patrick R. (Mary Mohr) Smith of Independence. She is also survived by six grandchildren—Seamus (Holly) Smith, Kevin (Emily) Kravitt Smith, Sean (Cassie Barnard) Smith, Rory (Brittany) Smith, Margaret O'Brien and Edward P. O'Brien plus three greats—Ally, Lila and Julian.
Marge was known to family and friends as a woman of faith, prayer and love. She prayed for everyone daily no matter what she was doing. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in Independence on Tuesday with a graveside service at Mt. Calvary in Atchison, KS. The family requests no flowers, but donations may be made to St. Mark's Church. The family also wants to thank all the wonderful people who cared for her at St. Mary's in Blue Springs, MO.