Arlene June (Emrich) Smith

Arlene June (Emrich) Smith was born June 10, 1923, the second daughter of George Emrich and Nellie Young Emrich. She went home to be with the Lord on March 7, 2018 at the Tonganoxie Nursing Care Facility in Tonganoxie, KS.

Arlene was born on a farm east of Longford, Kansas. She graduated from Walker Grade School, and the Longford Rural High School with the class of 1940. Following graduation, she taught school for four years.

She trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the age of 18. Over the years, she taught a young women’s Sunday school class and served as a church pianist and organist. She was last a member of the Heritage Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS.

She loved to sew and paint and was well capable of interior decorating. A rich heritage is left for those who knew her as wife, mother, and grandmother.

On July 23, 1942, she married Lewis A. Smith of Longford, KS. They were married for 58 years. He proceeded her in death.

After WWII, she and her husband farmed and operated a dairy farm near Longford for 52 years.

Three children were born to their union and remain: a daughter – Maxine Thorne and her husband, Gary, of Shawnee, KS, two sons – Timothy Smith of Atlanta, KS, and Kirkland Smith and his wife, Raylene, of Perry, KS.

Loved ones remaining also include 13 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren, a sister – Lorene Cecil of Prescott, AZ, and many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be held at Warren McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS on Tuesday, March 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Heritage Baptist Church, 1781 E. 800^th Road, Lawrence, KS on Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held in the Prairiedale Cemetery, in Talmage, KS at 3:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions may be made in her name to Heritage Baptist Church and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.