Judi Smith

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Judi K. Smith entered into rest on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 75.

Judi was born October 31, 1947, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the second youngest of five children born to Warner B. and Aileen (Hungate) Pollock. Her elementary and middle school years were in Ottumwa and Washington, Iowa. 

In her early high school year, 1962, the family moved to Neosho, Missouri. It was there that she met Dennis Smith. Even this early in life, Judi was a seeker, and when she met Dennis, he was a keeper. They married on July 20, 1968, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Neosho. 

 When Dennis was stationed with the U.S. Marines in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, their first son, Raymond, was born on Christmas Day, 1970. Their son, Howard, was born six and half years later in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In reflecting over the years of raising their two boys, their priorities together were to instill values in them through their faith practices, church community, and strong school educational programs for successful life careers. 

 As Dennis said, ‘Judi was very proud of what their sons have achieved and continue to make of themselves through their professions and for their families’. Judi’s interests and activities were varied and many. She worked hard in the local school system and then chose to work with special needs students. She also chose to work with foster kids in their home. 

 At one point, Judi and Dennis purchased ‘Capelli,’ a hair and nail salon. That endeavor brought many challenges and even frustrations, and when they closed Capelli, Judi wrote: ‘July 1, 1997 –Closed Capelli. Praise God!!’. Then, she worked for ten years for Paychex®, from which she retired. Whatever Judy chose to do, she gave it her all! 

Judi is survived by her husband, of fifty-five years, Dennis; her two sons, Raymond Smith and wife, Keri of Olathe, Kansas, and their two children, Ben and Becky; Howard Smith and wife, Meghan of Jenks, Oklahoma, and their daughter, Sunny; her siblings, Thomas Warner Pollock and wife, Judy and their family of Iowa City, Iowa; Howard Joe Pollock and wife, Dana and their family of Sanford, Florida; Kathy Sidney and husband, Mike and their family of Springdale, Arkansas; sister-in-law, Joan Martin of Neosho, Missouri. 

Judi is preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Bishop Pollock, who died on July 27, 1999, at the age of 57, a deputy of Adams County Sheriff’s office in Denver, Colorado, his wife Louanne, and their family.

Contributions in memory of Judi may be given to the American Diabetes Foundation or the American Cancer Society.