Gladys Smith

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Gladys Louise Smith, 89, of Cordova, Tenn., formerly of Mounds, passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Mrs. Smith was born Oct. 3, 1920, in Mound City, Ill., daughter of Thomas and Lena Hayden Moyers.

Gladys received a registered nurse certificate from St. Mary's School of Nursing in Cairo, Ill. Many will remember her as the nurse in OB/GYN at St. Mary's Infirmary, later called St. Mary's Hospital in Cairo. She worked with Dr. Yarbrough and helped to deliver a majority of babies in the Alexander and Pulaski County area during her tenure.

Mrs. Smith once wrote in her address book, "Blessed are those who take life as it comes." She was of the Methodist belief.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Leslie Smith in May 1968; a daughter, Donna Louise Merritt in December 2009; and a daughter-in-law, Paulette Smith.

Survivors include four sons, Tommy Smith of Memphis, Jean (Barbara) Smith of Olmsted, Ill., Jerry (Monica) Smith of Cairo, Robert (Berta) Smith of St. Louis; three daughters, Vicki (Albert Cook) of Grand Prairie, Texas, Edie Pine of Millington, Tenn., Mary (Barry) Arnold of Erin, Tenn.; a brother, Fred (Helen) Moyers of Cape Girardeau; 23 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be at noon Saturday at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill., with the Rev. Larry Miller officiating. Interment will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the funeral home.