Margaret Smith

Margaret Belle (Yocum) Smith, daughter of the late Marvin and Oda (Long) Yocum, was born in Mountain Grove, Missouri, on June 5, 1932, and departed this life on October 14, 2022, at the age of 90 at Quail Creek Skilled Nursing in Springfield, Missouri.

Margaret attended Mountain Valley School and graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1948. Margaret was crowned Homecoming Queen for the class of 1948 and held the title of the oldest living Homecoming Queen until her death.

After graduation, she married Jack Smith and purchased a farm north of Mountain Grove. They operated a successful dairy farm until Jack’s death in 1995. Margaret and Jack had two daughters: Cindy and Nancy.

Margaret had several jobs outside the home. She sewed leather pieces at the Brown Shoe Factory. Margaret was an excellent seamstress. She sewed some of the clothing for her daughters, prom dresses, cheerleading uniforms, swimsuits, and even a couple of suits for Jack and Cindy’s wedding dress. Margaret started working part-time at Richards Brothers grocery store during the anniversary sales and bagging Christmas candy. In 1972 she began a full time job at Richards Brothers where she was able to work and visit with lots of customers. She made many lifelong friends while working at Richards and retired in 2000. Margaret also enjoyed working with Susan Bushong helping to cater events for Spiceberry Flowers and Gifts.

Margaret loved her pets! When she moved from the farm to town, she brought her favorite cat Melissa and her Australian Shepherd Sadie. She took in a stray cat she called Tom who lived with her until she could no longer stay in her home. Margaret had a green thumb. She could plant anything in her backyard and make it grow. She always had beautiful flowers. Margaret embraced technology! She had to trade out her flip phone for an iPhone so she could text better and faster. She enjoyed using her iPad for facebook and surfing the internet. Margaret enjoyed good conversation and unfortunately lost her ability to speak and then the ability to read, write and text due to Aphasia.

Margaret attended Mountain Valley Freewill Baptist her entire life and was saved and baptized at an early age. She was known for bringing certain foods to church dinners. Family dinners always had a request for her fried chicken and chocolate wacky cake.

Besides her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Smith, sister, Louise McGowan, brother-in-law, Dan McGowan, brother, Woodrow Yocum, nephew, Jerry McGowan, son-in-law, Steve Thompson, and great granddaughter, Reese Wilson.

Margaret is survived by her daughters, Cindy Thompson and Nancy Cooper (Doug), grandchildren: Brett Thompson and Chelsea Wilson (Justin), great grandchildren: Taylor, Mackenzie, Tinley, Ella, and Trenton, sister-in-law, Wanda Yocum, nephew, Larry McGowan, niece, Linda Idoine, nephew, Don Yocum, other relatives and many friends who will miss her.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Mountain Valley Cemetery Fund or The Ronald McDonald House.