Gwen Goins Smith

Gwen Ann (Goins) Smith, daughter of the late Edward William and Ona Mae (Staehle) Goins, was born on February 5, 1951 at St. Anthony Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, and departed this life on July 5, 2015 at her home in Vanzant, Missouri. She was 64 years and 5 months of age.
Gwen was the third of five children. As a small child, Gwen discovered a love for the outdoors and the nature around her. As Gwen grew, her love for creatures, great and small, grew with her.
In her twenties, Gwen moved to Arizona with her daughter, Kimberly Ann, where she bought her first beloved mare, Chica. She found herself continually caring for orphaned animals. Gwen and Kimberly enjoyed their numerous pets, and found a special place in their hearts for each of them.
Gwen had a knack for business. She was compassionate and committed her lifes work to the care and treatment of the mentally ill at Arizona Health Care. In her spare time she raised and raced thoroughbreds. Gwen had a passion for dogs and gardening, but held horses especially dear to her heart. Her greatest joys were foaling, training, and riding.
In 1999, Gwen discovered the Ozarks and fell in love with it. She began working on a life-long dream of owning and operating a horse farm exactly the way she pictured it as a child, and that is exactly what she did. She brought her Fox Trotters from Arizona and began building her legacy of Action Farms.
Throughout her lifetime she raised many different breeds of dogs, Black Angus cattle, and horses. She educated herself on any project she wanted to do and then she did it, often without the help of others. Gwens passion was always evident in any endeavor she pursued.
In 2004, Gwens first grandchild Sydney Grace was born. Gwen picked out a special pony for Sydney, before she even took her first steps. In 2006, Gwens daughter, Kimberly had twins, Ellie Elizabeth and Samuel Alfred. Kimberly, Sydney, Ellie, and Sam have many fond memories of grooming ponies, cuddling puppies, riding tractors, and riding the Gator at grandmas house.
As her health faded, it was evident that she could no longer work with her majestic Fox Trotters. Unable to fathom not being able to still work with her horses, she began raising and showing Miniatures and Shetlands, many which hold titles for grand champion and hall of fame.
Gwens bright light will continue to live on through the numerous lives she has touched, and will continue to heal through her Arizona HealthCare company. Her hard work, style, eye for design, and love for animals will remain ever evident in her lasting legacy of Action Farms.
Besides her parents, Gwen is preceded in death by her younger brother: William Goins; and her older brother: Larry Goins.
She is survived by her daughter: Kimberly Maurer of Boston, Massachusetts; her brother: Rick Goins of Phoenix, Arizona; her sister: Linda Goins of Louisville, Kentucky; three grandchildren: Sidney, Sam, and Ellie; and a host of other family and friends who will greatly miss her.