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Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, NE with Rev. Lynde Linde officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, NE. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Lou Smith, daughter of Fane F. and Mildred E. (Neale) Vawter, was born on December 12, 1934, in Iowa City, IA. She was baptized in Coffeyville, KS and confirmed in Des Moines, IA. Mary Lou attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and graduated with the class of 1954. She attended Simpson College in Indianola, IA, where she met her future husband.
On May 17, 1958, Mary Lou married Paul Robert Smith at First Methodist Church in Des Moines, IA. From this union Mary Lou was blessed with one son. They made their home west of Cedar Rapids, NE where Mary Lou took care of the household.
Mary Lou was a member of The United Methodist Church and served on the Administrative Board as well as teaching Sunday school. Mary Lou's love for her community was evident from the organizations he was involved with. She was the president of the Boone County History Society, secretary of the East District Council on Ministries of the Nebraska Conference of The United Methodist Church, chair of the Boone County Federation of Republican Women, and a part of the Cedar Valley Parish Council. She was a member of the Gideon Auxiliary, past member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Queen City Doll Club in Hastings; as well as helping with Meals-On-Wheels. Mary Lou was also a Girl Scout and Brownie leader and a 4-H leader for 20 years. She and Paul Robert moved to California in 2006.
Mary Lou is survived by her son: Randy (Tupou) Smith of San José, CA; granddaughter: Elizabeth Fakava, also of San José; and three great-grandchildren: Sean, Keilani, and Kendale, Jr. Fakava; along with other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Paul Robert Smith in 2013; a brother: Fane F. Vawter, Jr. in 2007; and nephew, Robert Vawter, in 2023.
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