Leslie Ellen Smith

Leslie Ellen Smith died peacefully at her home on July 15, 2022. She was born in Kansas City on January 13, 1951, to Joseph Leland Smith and Barbara Sutterby Smith. Leslie graduated from Oak Park High School in 1969, Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in 1973 and from the University of Iowa College of Medicine with certification as a Physician’s Assistant (PA) in 1977. She also graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis on health education in 1988. She was one of the first PAs in the Midwest. She began her 30-year career as a PA at Medical Associates in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She then moved back to the Kansas City area to be near family and worked at Associates in Family Care in Olathe, Kan., and College Park Family Care in Overland Park, Kan. Her passion was helping to educate patients to be more knowledgeable about their health needs. She was fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and especially concerned about the communication needs of the Deaf community regarding medical care. Leslie had many interests: reading, photography, music, games and puzzles, and her nieces and nephews. She was a member of the Kansas City Guitar Society and a long-time member of The Branches Church in Olathe. Most of all, she loved people and her Lord Jesus Christ. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, sister Gloria and niece Naomi. She leaves behind four brothers Mark Smith, Leland Smith (Becky), Neal Smith, Jay Smith (Stacey) and one sister Beth Yeldell (John). She also leaves 17 nieces and nephews, and 25 great nieces and nephews.

Memorial Donations may be sent to The Branches Church, 13020 Black Bob Rd, Olathe, Kansas, or the Kansas City Guitar Society c/o Aleia Gonzalez, 2442 Cedarwood Ave, Lawrence, Kansas 66046

A memorial service will be held on Friday July 22, 2022, beginning with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. The memorial will be held at The Branches Church, 13020 Black Bob Rd. Olathe, Kansas 66062.