Lois June Smith was born Dec. 18, 1938, in Callaway, to Billie Dale and Vera M. (Lange) Strong and passed away Sept. 27, 2021, at her home in Seward at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 9 days.
Lois attended school in Callaway and graduated with the Class of 1956. After high school, she attended Grand Island School of Beauty and later owned Lois’s Wave Shoppe in Callaway. On Jan. 25, 1959, she married Larry Smith. They lived in Kearney until 1960 when they moved to Lincoln. She worked for the Nebraska DOT as a secretary while Larry attended dental school. In 1964, they moved to Seward where they raised their family. Lois worked for many years at Seward Family Medical Clinic as a receptionist. Lois was a member of the Seward United Methodist Church and Eastern Star, where she held several offices. In her free time, Lois enjoyed playing bridge, cross-stitch, bowling, reading, socializing with friend, and attending her children and grandchildren’s activities.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Jay Smith; sister, Lynnette Strong; parents-in-law, Earl and Merle Smith and brothers-in-law, Fred Smith and Roland Baker.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her husband, Larry Smith, Seward; children, Todd and wife, Terry Smith, Nebraska City, Troy Smith, Seward, Lisa and husband, Mark Peery, Seward; daughter-in-law, Susan Metzger, Huntsville, Alabama; sister, Lavonne Baker, Hoxie, Kansas; grandchildren, Katie (Jeffrey) Leiker, Benjamin (Breean) Smith, Betsy (Cole) Sharp, Cody Metzger, Nolan DeMers, Lee DeMers, Reagan Smith, Alyxis Peery, Tatum (Bradley) Eriksen, Sam Peery and Max Peery; great-grandchildren, Elliot Leiker, Ewan Leiker, Edward Leiker, Charlotte Eriksen and Jane Eriksen; brothers-in-law, Royce Smith, Redmond, Oregon, Kenneth Cooley; sisters-in-law, Mary Cooley, Melbourne Beach, Florida, DeLoris Smith and Lorraine Smith.
A memorial service was Oct. 2 at the Seward United Methodist Church with inurnment at the Greenwood Cemetery in Seward. Memorial contributions are suggested to the church or Meals on Wheels. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
