Gracie Smith, daughter of the late Henry Welch and Pearl Hopper Welch, was born on August 30, 1937, in Connels Point, Arkansas, and departed this life on October 23, 2024, at Prairie View Skilled Nursing in Bloomfield, Missouri, at the age of 87 years.

Mrs. Smith was a former bookkeeper for her husband’s farm, and she was a resident of Dexter. She enjoyed taking care of her home, being with her children and grandchildren, and family get togethers.

On June 15, 1952, in Clarendon, Arkansas, she was united in marriage to Carl Smith. Mr. Smith preceded her in death on September 26, 2011.

She is survived by two sons, Gene Smith and wife Janet of Dexter, Missouri, and Carl Smith Jr. and wife Marie of Jacksonville, Florida; by her daughter, Wanda Barker and husband Robert of Dexter, Missouri; by her brother, Johnny Welch of Memphis, Tennessee; by her sister, Mary Welch of Louisiana; and by thirteen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Other than by her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Robert L. Smith in infancy; by two brothers, Henry “Shorty” Welch, and Lee Welch; and by five sisters, Mae Rowland, Nell Tyner, Mable Welch, Naomi Pryor, and Virginia Sevyors.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.