Eva I Smith

Eva Irene Smith was born in Moundridge, Kansas on April 23, 1935 to Henry R. and Eva Smith.

She was known by most as Irene, but later in life went by her given name, Eva.

Irene grew up with her family in the central Kansas area, working on the dairy farm and getting into mischief with her siblings Betty, Marvin, Viola, Velma, Homer, John, and Vivian. In her early life she was an active member of the Mennonite church and later continued in her faith in the Wesleyan church. Her life was marked by an automobile accident when she was twenty-one years old. She recovered with her brother Marvin’s family in Chickasha, Oklahoma and later began nursing school. There she met Tommie Gene Smith, and they were married on July 26, 1962. They went out west for their honeymoon and ended up staying and making in life in Escondido, California. In October 1969 Tom and Irene adopted their daughter, Tammy Renee. Tommie and Irene were married thirty years until his passing in 1993.

Irene worked at Palomar Memorial Hospital, supervising the lab office, and after retirement she continued to work as a caregiver to the elderly. While her daughter was living in Bolivia, Irene moved back to El Dorado, Kansas to be close to her family in 2017. Earlier this year she moved to Pine Village skilled nursing in Moundridge, returning to her hometown. She passed away from complications from a fall on July 26, the date of her wedding anniversary.

Irene had a heart that deeply cared for others. This came from her Christian faith, the values with which she was raised, and from her experience being cared for after her accident. She felt others’ needs deeply and tried to do what she could to relieve their suffering. And her wish on her 90th birthday was to be able to get well enough to continue to do so. She loved hugs, and we give thanks that by our Lord Jesus she is now in God’s loving embrace.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Tammy, and siblings, Betty, Velma, John, and Vivian. Her funeral service will be held at the Eden Mennonite Church, Burns, Kansas on Friday, August 1 at 2:30pm.