Laura R Smith

Laura Ruth Smith

Laura Ruth Smith, 84 years, former Hominy, Oklahoma resident, passed from this life on Friday, January 5, 2018 at the Fort Gibson Nursing Home.

Laura was born March 19, 1933 to the Reverend Emzie and Annie C. (Adkins) Dixon in Hominy. Laura was raised and received her education in Hominy, graduating from the Hominy Carver High School and worked at the Hominy Hotel. On February 8, 1952, she married Andrew James Smith. They made their home in Hominy until 1963, when they moved to Arkansas City, Kansas. She worked for many years as a meat packager at the John Morrell Meat Packing Plant. Laura later attended what is now Wichita State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Art in Music. She spent 19 years in Muskogee, Oklahoma and was a member of All Nations Missions Center in Muskogee. Laura was always proud of her Hominy heritage and that her father pastored at the Westside Hominy Church.

Laura started playing the piano at age 8. She was taught by a dear friend of her mama. She first played at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Hominy. Laura played for many other churches: Tabernacle Baptist Church of Wichita, Kansas; Pilgrim Rest of Arkansas City, Kansas; Second Baptist of Winfield, Kansas; New Faith Baptist Church and All Nations Mission Center, both of Muskogee. She lastly played for the people at Fort Gibson Nursing Home and she played until the day she passed. Laura played for the Lord and nothing would stop her from playing, not even her health. She would get up every day and play the piano and talk about Faith. If anyone knew anything about Faith and the love she had for the Lord, it was Laura Ruth Smith.

Those that survive and hold many cherished memories include: her children: Edward James Smith of Muskogee, OK, Alexis Marie Lowry of North Carolina, Benjamin Dixon Smith of Muskogee, OK and Patty Jo Smith of Ok City, Paula Jean Smith of Bartlesville. Laura also took Karen Abington under her wing from Wichita, Kansas. Also surviving are numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as many other relatives and with Marcia Redmond as a special friend of the family, and many other dear friends.

Laura was preceded in death by: her husband in April of 2011; her parents, a grandson, 2 brothers, and a sister.

The funeral service will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, January 12, 2018 with the Pastor Lee Leatherman officiating. Pallbearers will be: James Crawford, Ricky Butler, Danny Daniels, Manuel Patterson, David Carducci and Tommy O'Laughlin. Musical selections are: "We Come This Far by Faith "You Must Be Born Again" and "I Don't Know About Tomorrow", with Marcia Redmond as pianist. Burial will follow services at A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy.

Powell Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences and memories may be left in the guestbook at PowellFuneralService.com.

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