Frances Smith's Obituary
Frances Smith, 95, of Chula Vista City, CA, formerly of Marshall and Boonville, passed away on Saturday November 22, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 11 am at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Marshall. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Friday, December 12, 2014 at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home in Boonville, and from 10-11 Saturday, December 13 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Marshall.
On November 22, 2014 at 3:21 pm, Nettie Frances Hardiman Smith was called home to be with the Lord. Nettie Frances was one of four children born on February 24, 1919 to Pink Alexander Hardiman and Ida Melvina Patterson Hardiman in Moniteau County, MO in Linn Township. She is proceeded in death by siblings Herbert, Ida “Tuffy”, Dorothy “Pinky” and Lillie Hardiman. Frances was also raised with her cousin Lela Patterson May whom she revered as a sister.
She was raised in Bunceton, MO on her parent’s farm and most everyone called her Frances. She was the eldest of four girls. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior at an early age and was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bunceton.
She completed high school in Bunceton in May 1939. Later she attended Lincoln University for one year and stayed with her cousin Milton Hardiman, head of the foreign language department. She returned to Bunceton and in March 1942 married George William Harper of Boonville, MO. They had two sons George Rantie Harper and Otis Alexander Harper. They lived on a farm in Bunceton until 1957 when they moved to Boonville.
Frances became a member of Morgan Street Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Youth Sunday School for many years. She loved to sing and received the opportunity to sing solo several times at Baptist Conventions. She enjoyed the weekly prayer and bible study sessions rotating in homes called the Circle. She loved serving in the community and was devoted to visiting the sick in their homes or hospital. She felt compelled by these selfless acts as she knew many of them did not have families or a loved one to talk with and receive the Lord’s word. Frances learned at a young age how to share her faith through her mother, “Mother Pink”. One of her favorite seasons of the year was Spring when she would attend basket dinners at many of the rural churches. Half of the congregation would be family because her mother was one of twenty-one children. What about that for a weekly reunion!
George William Harper passed away suddenly in June of 1973. It would be eight years before she would remarry. Frances met and married Waite H. Smith in 1981 and moved to Marshall, MO. Waite had one son Waite H. Smith Jr. and two granddaughters, Elisa and Erika Smith. Shortly after moving to Marshall she joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church where she continued working in the church and community. She loved her Pastor and Church family, speaking of them often.
Frances and Waite were members of a motor home club enjoyed traveling and meeting new friends. Both retired, they bought a motor home and would routinely leave the day after Christmas destined for Yuma, AZ to escape the cold weather. They would remain in Yuma until March before returning to Marshall.
Waite Jr. lived in the Los Angeles area with his family and passed away in 2003. Otis lives in San Diego with wife Shirley George Rantie lives in Oakland. Frances loved spending time with her family and friends from Missouri that live in Los Angeles. She was especially fond of her nieces Forecee Hogan Rowles and LaReese Hogan and nephew Force Rantie Hogan, relishing their personal time with each other. She would often travel to Los Angeles for weeks at a time to spend quality time them.
Waite Sr. passed away in March of 2009. Frances continued to live at home in Marshall until 2010 before her failing health. She had fallen several times and blamed herself for being clumsy. Concerned, Otis and his wife Shirley, decided to move her to San Diego to reside with them. While living in San Diego Frances attended New Genesis Southern Baptist Church with Otis, Shirley and family. She attended bible study and sang in choir through most of 2013. She was welcomed with open arms. Church members were in awe of her ability to find scripture, read it aloud, elaborate on the lesson and quote scripture verbatim at the age of (94) at the time. Everyone called her “Mom or Mother Smith”. Every Easter the church gives gifts to the oldest and youngest person and the parent with the most children present. Frances was all smiles being presented with a lemon cake each year. Her response was “I thank the Lord every day and praise him for all of His blessings. He allowed me to spend time with family and friends”. Everyone called her “Mom or Mother Smith”. Some of her grandchildren called her “Nanny” and “Gigi” for great grand momma. One thing for sure is she was and is loved!
Frances was placed in Hospice on November 14, 2014 and was lucid until her passing. Her great great grandchildren gave her hugs and kisses and told her she was loved every day until the end. She would smile and hold their hands. During her last days Otis read chapters from Psalms and prayed with her. These were precious moments Frances enjoyed and she would simply respond “thank you Lord”. She thanked the Lord until he called his Angel home.
Frances is survived by; sons George Rantie Harper and Otis Alexander Harper, husband of Shirley grandsons Otis Rantie Harper husband of Cinnamon, great grandchildren Devyn Nevaeh and Dailyn Jianna Harper, grandson Robert Alexander, husband of Melissa, great grandchildren David and Taylor Alexander, great granddaughter Alexis Alexander Hill, wife of Brandon and great great grandchildren Jaxen, Jordan and Addison “Addi” Hill, granddaughter Elisa Smith Edgar wife of John, great grandchildren Bria, John Jr., and Caleb Edgar, granddaughter Erika Smith Howe wife of Nathan, great grandchildren Jordan, Devin and Ethan Howe, nieces and nephews Forescee Hogan Rowles wife of Steve, children Xavier and Trinity Rowles, daughter Shaneeka Rowles with sons Kingston and Princeton, LaResee Hogan, daughter Despree, Rantie Hogan husband of Sharon, Sandra Hardiman Mosley, Wanda Hardiman Thompson, Perry Hardiman husband of Amanda, Charles Hardiman husband of Gloria, brother in-law William Morgan, cousin Lucille Gibson 102 years young, and a host of great and great great nieces, nephews and cousins.
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