Madora Smith

Mary Madora Adeline (Lonsdale) Smith, age 85, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, June 3, 2012 at the United Presbyterian Home following a lengthy illness. Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2012 at the United Methodist Church with Ilene Schnicker officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Thursday at the Jones-Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the United Methodist Church for Chancel Area or the PEO Education Loan Fund. Online condolences may be sent for Madora's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Mary Madora Adeline (Lonsdale) Smith was born September 2, 1926, the daughter of Richard and Mary Caroline (Malone) Lonsdale, in Des Moines, Iowa. She grew up in Winfield, Iowa where she graduated from High School. Madora attended Ward Belmont Girl's Junior College in Nashville, Tennessee for two years, then Iowa Wesleyan College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. While at Iowa Wesleyan she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, serving as President during her Senior year. While attending Iowa Wesleyan, Madora was united in marriage, at the Winfield, Iowa Methodist Church, to Max LeRoy Smith on June 22, 1947, by Rev. J. Porath and Dr. Niles, President of Iowa Wesleyan College. The next several years she worked as a secretary in Chicago, Illinois, while her husband was getting his Doctorate Degree in Optometry. Madora and Max have been residents of Washington, Iowa since 1950. She became an optometric assistant and because of her love of helping people wherever she could, she and her husband made five Mission Trips into Mexico with VOSH International Teams to bring glasses and optometric services to the unfortunate. Madora was a very active member of the Washington United Methodist Church, where she worked with flowers as a member of the Altar Committee for over thirty years, and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; various Fortnightly Departments; fifty-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and an active member of Chapter J thereof. She served longtime as Treasurer of the Martha Washington Department #1032 of The Questers, was a genealogy buff, loved history and antiques. She was very creative in the use of flowers and plants and liked nothing better than sharing plants and helping friends with gardening problems. Madora is survived by her husband, Dr. Max L. Smith of Washington, Iowa; son Mark Richard Smith of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Mary Annette Sistern of Washington, Iowa; granddaughter Bambi Darlene Sistern of Waseka, Minnesota; three great-grandchildren, Malachi , Max , and Lillie Goodwin all of Washington, Iowa; sister, Neva Gladys Burba of Palos Heights, Illinois; and brother, Richard "J.D." Lonsdale and wife Alice of Midway, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother-in-law, Al Burba. Madora is remembered as one easily and greatly loved and, as husband Max said, "was a blessing."

Madora Smith

September 2, 1926 - June 3, 2012