Ora Lee Philpot Smith

Ora Lee (Philpot) Smith, 78, of Butler, died Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. She was born Dec. 5, 1926, in Humboldt, Neb., to Herbert Willard and Winnie Mae McLaughlin Philpot. She was married to Richard "Earl" Smith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Earl; two infant sons, Charles Herbert Fitch and Charles Clifford Fitch; her half-sister, Geraldine Hawley; and her half-brother Leslie Mancan. She is survived by her children, Cliffard Smith, of Butler, Richard Smith and Bobby Smith of Rich Hill; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; three step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and her half-sister, Imogene Serrano of Las Vegas, Nev.

Services were held on Dec. 31, at First Christian Church in Rich Hill, with Bill Perkey and Dan Muzzy officiating. Musical selections "What A Day That Will Be" and "Because He Lives" were performed by Ron Dunlap and Mandy Clutter. Pallbearers were Larry Boyd, Richard Kithcart, Sam Ervin, Jimmy Kithcart, David Ervin and Mark Ervin. Honorary pallbearers were Ralph Philpot, Albert Morse, Kenny Kassner, Kenneth Taylor, Steve Heuser, Jim Black and Terry Heuser. Interment was in Greenlawn Cemetery in Rich Hill.

Contributions are suggested to the Kern Senior Center in Rich Hill. Arrangements under the direction of the Heuser Funeral Home in Rich Hill.