Carolyn Smith, 83, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Clinton Healthcare and Rehab in Clinton, Missouri.
Carolyn Sue Smith, 83, born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 8, 1942 passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Clinton Healthcare and Rehab in Clinton, Missouri.
She was a devout lover of Christ and prayed often for friends and family and loved her bible.
She is preceded in death by her husband Larry Smith Sr., whom she was married to for 43 years before his passing. She is preceded in death by her parents (James & Mary) to whom she was very much a daddy’s girl. She is also preceded in death by two brothers (Bob & Don) and two sisters (Jackie & Judy). She is survived by one sister Bonnie Peterson of California whom she loved dearly. She is survived by a special niece Tammy French also from California whom she shared a special bond.
Carolyn was preceded in death by two daughters, Kim Sperry and Debbie Ceballos. She was also preceded in death by one grandchild, Josh Sperry of Oklahoma.
She is survived by two sons; Larry Smith and his wife Terri Smith of Clinton and Bryant Smith of Clinton Missouri and one daughter Lori Sperry of Oklahoma.
She has ten grandchildren; Ashlee Smith, Melissa Sperry, Matthew Sperry, Floyd Sperry, Jonathan Ceballos, Chris Sperry, Brittany Jones, Caleb Smith, Matthew Smith, and Bryanne Smith. She has numerous great-grandchildren to include; Waylon, Darbee, Emmalyn, Maci, Sadie, Kaiden, Alysen, Alydia and Bentley.
She loved her family and friends dearly and held a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. In her earlier life she loved working in a floral shop and settled into her greatest love of being a wife and homemaker to not only her children but future grandchildren. She was also loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. Carolyn was a lover of animals and she loved her fur baby Yorkie named Georgia, who was her best friend and guardian.
Carolyn’s hobbies and loves included cooking, crafts and getting her hair and nails done. She was known for her love of cooking and was well known for never letting anyone go hungry. She loved the holidays and made sure everyone felt special and never met a stranger. She loved to fix Christmas food plates to which her husband would deliver to neighbors and was famous for her Pumpkin cookies. She was an avid canner and loved gardening with her husband and making jellies and jams.
She was active in 4-H, little league baseball as the board President in California and President of the Women’s Auxiliary. She often volunteered at schools and churches leading Sunday school services to include those at Garland Baptist Church. She was known as the mom/granny to have as a homeroom mom due to all the great treats and goodies she would create and bring. Many will miss her holiday parties, with all the decorations and treats and her love for entertaining and creating special memories for all those she loved.
Carolyn was known for her love, kindness and generosity. She forever will be known and was called by many names such as Bear, Momma Bear, Granny Bear, Grandma Sally and Aunt Sally to name a few. Her love of life for her husband, family and friends will always be remembered.
Funeral services were held November 4, 2025 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Pastor Paul Dawson officiating. The casket bearers were Larry Smith, Jr., Floyd Sperry, Matthew Smith, Matthew Sperry, Chris Sperry and Caleb Smith. Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
