BETTY SMITH

Betty Darlene Smith passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Pearland (Houston), Texas, surrounded by her loved ones. Betty was born on July 16, 1929, in Quincy, IL, to Louis and Ruby Janney and lived until age 92. When the stock market crashed a few months after her birth, the family moved to her maternal grandfather’s house in La Grange, MO. Eight years later, the family moved to Canton, MO, in 1938 where Betty spent her formative years as a small-town girl who later in life went on to live in many diverse places including Baltimore, MD; Los Angeles, CA, area; Spokane, WA; San Antonio, TX; Biloxi, MS; Houston, TX; and three years abroad in Tokyo, Japan. Her travels included Mexico, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, and Paris. She lived the last 48 years of her life in the Houston area, most of which in her beautiful home in Missouri City. She maintained her wonderful “mid-west, small town” values throughout her life.

Betty was deeply committed to her husband of 46 years, Robert (“Bob”) Eugene Smith, and they were a perfect team completely devoted to their family, especially their children. Betty and Bob truly lived the American Dream and did so in every traditional way through hard work and sacrifice. Betty was responsible for everything in the home while making the children her full-time job which enabled Bob, a physician, to focus on earning a living for the family through his medical practice. Betty and Bob were kind, just, and fair. They gave their children everything and passed on their values of honesty, integrity, education, self-reliance, and hard work.

Betty met her future husband at the diner where she worked in Canton, MO. Bob asked her out and their first date took place on Friday the 13th, which became a special day of celebration in the family from that point forward. They were married in August, 1948, and moved to Baltimore, MD, where Bob attended Johns Hopkins Medical School. They are survived by their three children Sandra Peterson, Steven Smith and his husband Chuck Roppel, and Sherry Shiflet; four grandchildren Nichole (James) Harvey, Christine (Tim) Reid, Stephanie (Kyle) Winkler, and Ryan (Vivian) Shiflet; five great grandchildren Jade Harvey, Jake Harvey, Kaylee Reid, Luke Reid, and Kole Winkler. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Janney, and sister, Dorothy English. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son-in-law, Charles Peterson.

Betty was a wonderful cook, and was famous for her Christmas baked goodies — especially her fabulous fruit cookies, which everyone loved. She baked dozens and dozens of the fruit cookies, along with many other delectables, to celebrate Christmas, Betty and Bob’s favorite holiday and biggest annual celebration. During the Christmas season, Betty, decorated her home inside and out, and she especially loved the miniature train and Christmas village being under the Christmas tree.

A special mention of Betty’s devotion to her loving husband is due for her tireless care of Bob through his severe illnesses at the end of his life. He left us way too early (in 1994), and Betty, the matriarch of the family, subsequently lived independently for nearly 25 years, until moving on to assisted living in 2018. Betty’s strength, courage, independence, wit, humor and competence throughout those decades was remarkable. An extraordinary role model, Betty will be sorely missed by her family and friends, all of whom love her without measure.

Tributes to Robert and Betty Smith can be made by donating to the Robert E. and Betty D. Smith Scholarship fund at Culver-Stockton College. To contribute to the fund:

1. Go to the Culver-Stockton College website at culver.edu. 2. Click the Give button.

3. Enter the amount of your gift. 4. Choose Robert E. and Betty Smith Endowed Golf Scholarship from the Fund Designation drop-down menu. 5. Complete the rest of the form. 6. Click Give Now.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Forest Grove Cemetery, 1308-1394 White Street, Canton, MO 63435.

Online condolence may be left at www.arnoldsfuneralhome.net