RITA MAE SMITH

LAURITA MAE SMITH, a resident of the Oakland Community, former resident of Memphis, retired Medical Office Manager and widow of Kenneth N. Smith died Wednesday afternoon, March 17, 2010 at the St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was 82 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Funeral services for Mrs. Smith were conducted at 10 A.M. Saturday, March 20th at St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church with Father Stephen K. Kenny, officiating. Interment followed in the Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery, and arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mrs. Smith was born in Wakeman, Ohio on March 4, 1928 to Oliver Robert Gribben and Helen Mary Love, who have both preceded her in death.

She attended schools in the Elyria Public School system of Ohio and was married to the late Kenneth Nick Smith.

She had been a resident of the Memphis area for forty years before moving to Oakland to reside with her daughter.

Mrs. Smith had been a Medical Office Manager for forty years before retiring with Dr. Jack Halford's Medical Clinic in Memphis.

A Catholic, she was a devoted member of St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville and she also served as a volunteer with the St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett, as long as health permitted.

Her interests included camping, fishing, outdoor activities and traveling.

Survivors of Mrs. Smith include two daughters, Constance Traylor of Oakland and Kathleen Williams of Elyria, OH; a brother, Charles Gribben of Elyria, OH; three grandchildren: Darla Rabideau of Lakeland, TN; Cary Defino of Caro, MI and James Traylor, IV of Oakland and three great-grandchildren: Cody Rabideau of Caro, MI; Dominique Rabideau of Lakeland and Sophia Defino of Caro, MI.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, David Smith and two brothers, Robert Gribben and Richard Gribben.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were family members and friends.

The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Philip The Apostle Catholic Church, 11710 Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068; Phone: (901) 465-8685.