Vesta 'Delores' (Jones) Smith

Vesta “Delores” Smith, daughter of the late Clyde and Sarah (Sikes) Jones, was born on May 22, 1923 in Norwood, Missouri, and went home to be with her Lord on July 24, 2013 in the Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was 90 years of age.

Delores spent several years teaching in a one room school house after graduating from Norwood High School. She was united in marriage to Harvey Smith on April 12, 1941 in Wright County, where they spent most of their life. Two sons were born to this union.


During her lifetime, Delores held many positions that helped support her family, including babysitting her grandchildren.


Delores and Harvey made the Norwood and Macomb area their home for many years. In later years, they sold their farm at Macomb and moved to Mansfield, where they made their home. Following Harvey’s passing, Delores lived in Rogersville and Ozark, Missouri.

Delores was an excellent cook, who made family dinners a joyous feast, in order to create beautiful memories with those around her. She loved having her family together and was ready for any chance to have a reunion.

Delores was strong-willed and highly intelligent. She was always quick with a suggestion for improving a situation and was able to solve challenging crossword puzzles with ease. Her stories were laced with insight, a love of family and her history.

Giving of her time, her energies, and her possessions made Delores happy. A trip to her home always resulted in a visitor leaving with some of her blackberry jelly, apple butter, canned green beans, or the newest Home Interior figurine.

Delores was a faithful Christian and attended Wolf Creek Free Will Baptist Church as long as her health permitted.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She truly loved her grandchildren and they in turn, loved her very much.


Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Harvey Smith; two sisters: Phyllis Odle and Neva Fakes; and by three brothers: Gorman, J.D., and Gerald Jones.

She is survived by her two sons: Jerry Smith and his wife, Donna, of Rogersville, Missouri, and Larry Smith and his wife, Joy, of Bolivar, Missouri; two brothers:


Gayland Jones and his wife, June, of Norwood, Missouri and Jim Jones and his wife, Betty, Odessa, Missouri; four grandchildren: Rene McClure, Doug Smith, Wendy Swope, and Jason Smith; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.


Delores’ love and kindness will be truly missed by all who knew her. Her memories will live in our hearts forever.

Memorial Contributions:
Thomas Cemetery Fund c/o the funeral home.