Eleanor May Smith
Eleanor May Smith, age 80, of Ulysses, Kansas, died Friday, July 21, 2017, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. She was born October 26, 1936, in Horace, Kansas, the daughter of Ernest and Lena May (Van Vleet) Noble.
Eleanor grew up in Syracuse and graduated from Syracuse High School. After graduation, she moved to Lakin and worked as a waitress. She married Johnny C. Smith, Sr. on February 19, 1956, in Raton, New Mexico. Eleanor loved to dance, with the jitterbug being her specialty. She enjoyed going to drive-in movies, cooking, gardening, and entertaining her family and friends. Eleanor enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays. She and Johnny belonged to bowling leagues from 1973-2015. She also enjoyed listening to classic country music. She provided daycare to several children including her grandkids. Eleanor was currently a clerk at DK Liquor.
She is survived by her husband, Johnny of the home; son, J.C. Smith of Ulysses; daughters, Cheryl Mangels of Ulysses, Linda Cantrell of Kansas City, Missouri, and Karen Stepp of Ulysses; two half-sisters, Becky Leedy and Claudia Noble both of Arizona; 12 grandchildren, Ryan Smith, Cole Smith, Steven Akers, Stephanie Carter, J.D. Cantrell, Trinity Cantrell, Derrick Cantrell, Morgan Stepp, Brandi Moore, Aleisha Stepp, Libby Stepp, and Garett Stepp; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Eleanor is preceded in death by her father, Ernest Noble; mother, Lena May Yost; step-dads, Albert Yost and Herman Forgey; sisters, Virginia Lee Henley and Betty Lou Motsa; half-sister, Verna Noble; and three siblings at birth.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at 2:00 PM at Country View Baptist Church in Ulysses with Pastor James Berry officiating. Interment will follow at Ulysses Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday, July 24, 2017, from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance for autism or US Autism & Asperger Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
