Rebecca Lou Smith

Rebecca was the daughter of Christian Van Horn Bissell and Elsie Mae Moreland Bissell. Born on 11/6/1926 in Kansas City, MO, she was named after her paternal grandmother (who died young) on the condition that she be called “Becca” and not “Becky”. At 9 years old she read Tom Sawyer and adopted the name “Becky” for herself after Becky Thatcher but she was always Becca to her family.

She was active in church throughout her life using her beautiful lyric soprano voice at Linwood Methodist Church as a teen and young woman and teaching Sunday school and VBS as a young mom. Rebecca was a sincere devout Christian with a strong faith that withstood many trials and tests, and followed her mothers example as a strong prayer warrior for her family. . She did not claim to have a life verse, but lived with a deep understanding of Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Becca worked as a secretary in the day of manual typewriters and shorthand. (She was faster than an electric typewriter, but she did not make coffee.) She quit to have a family but worked temporary jobs periodically as the kids grew older. The KC branch of the American Cancer Society called her back to help with their fundraising season year after year.

Becky married Ralph A Smith 10/6/1951 had three kids. They moved to Prairie Village, KS where she devoted her time to her family as den mother, troop leader, room mother, costume maker and all around favorite neighborhood mom. She was a go getter and fiercely loyal to her family. Once when shopping for cologne for her, Ralph looked at the names of various scents and asked the clerk, “Do you have anything called ‘Little Angry Tiger’?” Even at 5’2” and 6’7” they were clearly a perfect match. She said later that she realized “till death do us part” meant her death not his; she never remarried.

Widowed early, she started a business with her daughter inspired by the experience she had with her daughter’s wedding. Men could rent tuxes but women had to buy their dresses. Valerie’s Bridal soon became the largest bridal and formal rental in the Midwest. She loved creating silk flower wedding arrangements and helping clients and coined the motto “Where our customers become our friends”. She retired after 15 years to devote her time to caring for her mother, sister and granddaughter.

She lived Ecclesiastes 9:10 to the fullest: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Later in life she still refused to idle, whether crocheting baby clothes for charity, selling vintage jewelry on EBay or even working a magazine delivery route with her son Craig well into her 80s.

Rebecca lived her later years in her son Mark’s home. When she was no longer able to cook and care for herself as dementia progressed, Mark seamlessly stepped in as her full time caregiver providing her with comfort and security at home. She was loved by her family and he communicated that daily.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ralph A Smith, her sister Coralyn Jane Bissell, her parents Elsye Moreland Bissell and Christian V. Bissell.

She leaves three children, Steven Craig Smith (Kelly), Valerie Lynn Smith Minniear, and Mark Montgomery Smith, five grandchildren Lindsay Coralyn Martin, CAS Minniear, Aedan Smith, Brody Smith and Morgan Smith and two step-grandchildren Megan Minniear and Rodney Minniear.

‘“Well done good and faithful servant.” Matt. 25:23