Rosemary E. Smith

Ella Rosemary Ramsey Smith went to meet her Savior, Jesus Christ, August 16, 2010 with family and friends by her side. She was born May 11, 1918 in OKC to John James and Lillie Roberta Ramsey. She married Raymond Smith in June 1938. They had 3 daughters. She is survived by 2 daughters, Janelle Rae Campbell, Jerre Lynn Byers and husband Jerry; brother Charles Madison Ramsey and wife Dolores; grandchildren Brooke Wroblewski, husband Layne, their children, Sophia, Zachary and Zoey; Brett Byers, his children, Bailey and Carsyn; and Ryan Byers, wife Angie, their son Tallon; Ian Campbell, his wife Marilyn; and many nieces and nephews, as well as numerous friends. She is proceeded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, daughter Penelope, brother John Jr, and sister Margaret Tavares.

She was always an active member of her church-Putnam City Baptist, Mayfair Baptist, First Baptist Edmond, Lone Star Baptist, where she and Raymond were proud to be charter members, teaching Sunday School, VBS, Nursery Coordinator, various committees, whatever was needed. Rosemary and Raymond were custodians at Lone Star for many years. She also taught cake decorating and cooking classes at Friendship International. She was a school cook at Orvis Risner Elementary, but probably was most famous for her cake decorating skills—doing wedding cakes and birthday cakes of all themes for people all over Edmond. Her family became spoiled, always choosing any cake their heart desired, which she always was able to create.

She had a very creative side, which showed in her cakes, but one of her hobbies before she had children was china painting. She painted an entire set of Haviland china. The Alzheimer Association had an art class in some of the local nursing homes. Mother was very intense when they put the brush in her hand, asking the instructor numerous times if she was doing ok. When it seemed she was finished, the instructor asked her what she was going to call her painting. Mother’s reply was, “Hello Sunshine.” Her painting was on display with the traveling exhibition of the Oklahoma Alzheimer Association. It is now on display at Grace Living Center in Edmond.

Her later years were spent at Grace Living center. The staff was always greeted by songs such as “You are My Sunshine,” “Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder.” Her favorite response when asked how she was—“Fit as a Fiddle and Ready for Love!” The people at Grace and the Good Shepherd Hospice took very good care of her and she loved and appreciated them so very much.

Always putting others first, Mother was so very special to her family and all who knew her. She was a constant caregiver to her parents in later years. Notorious for always being late, everyone knew they could always count on Rosemary for whatever needed to be done. She never met a stranger because they were quickly friends.

Grandchildren remember her constant humming. She always had a song in her heart and a hum on her lips.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, August 20, 2010 at Lone Star Baptist Church, Hefner and Eastern, Oklahoma City. Donations may be made to the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.