Mary Florence (Patten) Smith

Smith, Mary Florence (Patten), 92, formerly of Parsons, KS and Visalia, CA, died Monday, March 28, 2011. Rosary 7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 3 at Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 4, at St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Paul, KS. Mary was born November 15, 1918 to Thomas C. and Nora Elaine Patten in Labette County (near Parsons, KS). She had 4 brothers and 1 sister, all deceased. Mary attended Parsons High School and Parsons Junior College, graduating with honors. She married Paul Henry Smith, (deceased) November 13, 1937, in Los Angeles, CA. They made their home there until 1940, and then returned to their farm near Parsons. They had 3 children, Florence Marie Means of Grove, OK, Paul Norman Smith (Marilyn) of Pismo Beach, CA and Richard Eugene Smith (Judi) of Port Ludow, WA; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren. After retirement from legal secretarial positions, she moved to Georgetown Retirement Community where she participated in many charitable activities. Mary was a member of All Saints Altar Society, Via Christi Hospital Auxiliary and was a Sisters of Saint Joseph Associate. Memorials have been established with Special Olympics Air Capital Flyers Team, Program #670, 907 Wilbur Lane, Wichita, KS, 67212 and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS, 67202. Rosary 7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 3 at Downing Lahey Mortuary East.