Irene Smith

Irene Mae Hizer Smith, 97, of Kewanna went to be with her Lord at 11:11 a.m., Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Wynnfield Crossing.where she resided for the last two years

Born on May 14, 1920 in Wayne Township of Fulton County where she lived her entire life.  She was one of six children born to Joseph Charles and Mae Rose Sadler Hizer.

On March 1, 1941 she married Maurice B. Smith in Fulton County.   Their family included four sons.  Maurice preceded her in death on October 19, 1999.

Irene was a devoted Christian farm wife and mother who enjoyed her chickens and raising baby calves.  In later years she was an active golfer and she enjoyed following her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s local sports activities.

Irene’s great great great grandfather, Jacob Hizer was born in 1740 in Prussia (present day Germany).  He settled his family in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1771.  Jacob and wife Susanna moved their family to Rising Sun on the Ohio River, then to near present day Lafayette and then to the Logansport area.  The family then moved to Wayne Township, Fulton County making this Hizer family one of the very first settlers to Wayne Township.  All of these early Hizers are buried in a private cemetery located on the Carl Dean Sommers farm.

She is survived by three son’s, Allan Maurice Smith and his wife Kathy, Michael Eugene Smith and his wife Rhonda and Timothy Charles Smith and his wife Pat all of Kewanna, 12 grandchildren, Jenny Smith and husband Leo, Jeff Smith and wife Diana, Christina Smith Everst and husband Kevin, Tammie Smith Bradshaw and husband Dean, Nicole Smith Tunis and husband Charles, Angela Smith Slocom and husband Tony, Adam Smith and wife Beth, Jamie Smith Hostetler and husband Jamie, Lyndee Smith Duhnovsky and husband Shawn, Jodi Smith Boldry and husband Brad, Jacob Smith and wife Michelle, Joshua Smith and wife Sumer.  She is also survived by 26 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Maurice, a son, James Edward Smith and his wife Kathy, 5 siblings, Cresswell Hizer, Marjorie Hizer Smith, Caroline Hizer Sarver, Lawrence Hizer and Florence Hizer Whittenburger.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Harrison-Metzger-Rans Funeral Home, Kewanna Chapel with her son, Pastor Timothy Smith officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at the funeral home.

Burial will be at Citizens I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Kewanna.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wynnfield Crossing and/or Great Lakes Hospice.