1939
Lillian
2023
Lillian Mae Clarasis (Howard) Smith
January 30, 1939 — March 2, 2023
Lillian Mae Clarasis (Howard) Smith, age 84, of Iola, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.
Lillian was born January 30, 1939, to the late Charles Howard and Mary Bentley-Howard.
Lillian, aka, Ms. Gigi, attended school in Iola, Kansas, where she played the trumpet and was a member of the marching band. Lillian was very talented, she enjoyed playing the organ and piano at home and singing in the church choir, at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she was a member. Lillian attended college in Nebraska and Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.
On August 23, 1965, Lillian Howard and Robert Smith were married in Iola, Kansas.
Lillian worked many jobs over the years, with her favorite being a teacher's aide at Lincoln Elementary School which began August 29, 1962. Lillian also worked in many other roles while at the school. Some of those roles included working in the lunch room, as a bus monitor, substitute teacher, and food service cook before retiring July 16, 1996. Lillian also worked as a housekeeper, and operated her janitorial service and dishwashing business. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association of Kansas and the American Legion.
Lillian loved to play BINGO and would travel to do so. She loved going for rides with Robert, sitting in the park and watching her grandchildren swim, along with any activities they loved, like soccer. Lillian was home bound living in Wichita, Kansas, with her daughter and grandchildren since 2019. Lillian was a dialysis patient and battled multiple health issues, but her faith in the Lord never wavered.
Lillian is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Howard; brothers Daniel Howard, David Howard; sisters Tuddie Bell Watson, Elizabeth Howard, Martha Howard; and twins Charles and Henry.
Lillian is also preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Smith.
Lillian is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Smith, of the home in Wichita, Kansas; son, Charles Smith of Iola, Kansas; grandchildren Jayla Smith and Cameron Smith of the home in Wichita, and grandson, Jayden Hale of Edmond, Oklahoma; mother in law, Mildred Vivian Smith and sister in law, Carmen Williams of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members and lots of friends.
A celebration of life service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday March 17, 2023 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Hwy 54 Iola, Kansas. Inurnment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Iola, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church and can be left in the care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .
Lillian was born January 30, 1939, to the late Charles Howard and Mary Bentley-Howard.
Lillian, aka, Ms. Gigi, attended school in Iola, Kansas, where she played the trumpet and was a member of the marching band. Lillian was very talented, she enjoyed playing the organ and piano at home and singing in the church choir, at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she was a member. Lillian attended college in Nebraska and Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.
On August 23, 1965, Lillian Howard and Robert Smith were married in Iola, Kansas.
Lillian worked many jobs over the years, with her favorite being a teacher's aide at Lincoln Elementary School which began August 29, 1962. Lillian also worked in many other roles while at the school. Some of those roles included working in the lunch room, as a bus monitor, substitute teacher, and food service cook before retiring July 16, 1996. Lillian also worked as a housekeeper, and operated her janitorial service and dishwashing business. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association of Kansas and the American Legion.
Lillian loved to play BINGO and would travel to do so. She loved going for rides with Robert, sitting in the park and watching her grandchildren swim, along with any activities they loved, like soccer. Lillian was home bound living in Wichita, Kansas, with her daughter and grandchildren since 2019. Lillian was a dialysis patient and battled multiple health issues, but her faith in the Lord never wavered.
Lillian is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Howard; brothers Daniel Howard, David Howard; sisters Tuddie Bell Watson, Elizabeth Howard, Martha Howard; and twins Charles and Henry.
Lillian is also preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Smith.
Lillian is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Smith, of the home in Wichita, Kansas; son, Charles Smith of Iola, Kansas; grandchildren Jayla Smith and Cameron Smith of the home in Wichita, and grandson, Jayden Hale of Edmond, Oklahoma; mother in law, Mildred Vivian Smith and sister in law, Carmen Williams of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members and lots of friends.
A celebration of life service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday March 17, 2023 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Hwy 54 Iola, Kansas. Inurnment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Iola, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church and can be left in the care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lillian Mae Clarasis (Howard) Smith, please visit our flower store.
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Friday, March 17, 2023
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)
Feuerborn Family Funeral Service - Iola
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