She was born on Aug. 24, 1949, at Perryton, Texas, to Ralph E. and Frances V. (Logsdon) Hite. She moved with her family to southern California where she attended schools in Anaheim and graduated from Anaheim High School in 1967. While in high school she was active in band and played the clarinet. She participated in several state competitions. She was also active in the Girls Athletic Association. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton University with a degree in elementary education. She worked at the J.C. Penney catalog department as a sales clerk.
She married Thomas H. Smith on Nov. 25, 1972, at Santa Ana, Calif. He survives of the home.
They moved to Uniontown, Pa., where she continued working with J.C. Penney. The family moved to Garden City and then Parsons in 1989. While living in Garden City and Parsons she was a homemaker caring for her children and grandchildren.
Jerrie was a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren where her husband has served as pastor since 1989. She was active in various areas of the church and its ministry, including women’s ministry, Sunday school class instructor and conducted a children’s ministry puppet show. She also volunteered for the Meal on Wheels program.
Just like her family she was an avid Steelers fan. She was proud of her Texas heritage and supported the Texas Longhorns and enjoyed the red rivalry game against Oklahoma. Most of all she was passionate about the love and faith she had in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her most earthly passion was the love she had for her family.
In addition to her husband, Pastor Tom Smith, Jerrie is survived by her son, Peter Smith of Parsons; her daughter, Jeremie Hodge and her husband, Jeremy, of Parsons; three grandchildren, Carrington, Mattea and Easton Hodge; her father-in-law, the Rev. A. Harrison Smith of Farmington, Pa.; two brothers-in-law, Pastor Ronald Smith and his wife, Irela, of Farmington, Pa., and Terry Dessenberger of Parsons; her aunt, Bess Shriver of Enid, Okla.; numerous cousins; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Dessenberger.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4 to 6 Sunday evening.
Memorials are suggested to the Church of the Brethren and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, 112 N. 26th St., Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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