Shirley Smith (1933-2022)
Shirley J. Smith, 89, of Topeka, passed away on Oct. 14, 2022.
She was born Sept. 6, 1933 in the Delia area to Paul and Wilma Holt Voelker. At a very early age, she moved with her parents to Hoyt. She attended Hoyt Elementary and Hoyt High School, graduating in 1951. Shirley was active in the Hoyt 4-H Club.
She married Marvin E. Smith on Aug. 4, 1951. The Rev. Harold Brown, brother-in-law of Marvin, officiated the ceremony at the home of her parents, Paul and Wilma Holt Voelker. Marvin and Shirley celebrated 70 years of marriage in August 2021. Most of those years were at their farm north of Topeka in Shawnee County.
Shirley had a very busy life on the farm being much involved in the dairy operation for 25 years and later in a beef cattle operation. She very much enjoyed summer visits and help from all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was active in the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church and the women’s group and was chairwoman of the annual fall turkey dinner for many years. In later years, Shirley returned to the Hoyt Baptist Church where she had grown up and been baptized. Both churches were very dear to her.
Shirley was active in the Shawnee County Farm Bureau serving as the Women’s Chairwoman, an officer for the Master Farm Homemakers of Kansas and the National Farm Homemakers. She also served as a supervising judge on the election board for Shawnee County for several years.
Shirley is survived by her children, Connie Jean Smith, Topeka; Ben (Ramona) Smith, Topeka; Donna Marie Amend, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; and Jim (Elizabeth) Smith, Winter Garden, Fla.; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Al) Davis, Curt Hermann, Brandon (Leah), Blake (Melissa) Smith, Brock (Laura) and Chanel Smith (Elijah); and 12 great grandchildren.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; their daughter, Judy Ann, in 1961; her parents, Paul and Wilma Voelker; her brother, Paul Voelker (Virginia); and her sister, Leona Coleman.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt. Burial will follow in the Hoyt Cemetery. Shirley will lie in state after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where family and friends will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Memorials have been established to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church of Hoyt and Jackson County 4-H. Online condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com
