Barbara J. Smith, 88, of Cassopolis passed away Thursday, April 29, 2010 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Feb. 15, 1922 in Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County, Mich. to the late Leonard and Dorothea (Carberry) Bradford and was a lifetime area resident.
She married George Smith on May 12, 1945 in Cassopolis and he survives.
Barbara was a retired school teacher and taught at the Cassopolis Public Schools for more than 23 years. She loved all of her students and they all loved her. Barbara was a member of the Pleasant View Church of Christ, Cassopolis. She was a graduate of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Barbara’s favorite thinking was spending time with family.
She is also survived by five children, Edward (Terrie) Smith, Warren Thomas (Millie) Smith, John Howard (Eileen) Smith and Harold (Deb) Smith, all of Cassopolis, and Kathryn L. Dockerty, of Dowagiac; 17 grand- and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Alice Phelps, Mary Schmidt and Margaret Leach; and a brother, John Bradford.
A funeral service was held Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Pleasant View Church of Christ, 60550 Crooked Creek Rd., Cassopolis. Officiating was the Rev. Larry Settle, retired pastor of the church. Internment was at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Sumnerville, Mich. The family received friends Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis. Memorials may be made to Cass County Council on Aging, Cassopolis. Online condolences can be left at connellyfuneralhome@verizon.net.