Patsy Smith, 83, of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Traditions Memory Care in Newton.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 am, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Walt Claussen officiating. Interment will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery northwest of Grinnell. A luncheon will follow at the Eagles in Grinnell.

The family will receive friends at the visitation held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Monday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

Memorials may be designated to Hickory Grove Church, Newburg-Chester Church, or to Traditions Memory Care of Newton, and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Patsy's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Patsy Jane Nott was born on August 26, 1941, in rural Hickory Grove Township, north of Grinnell, to Edgar and Beulah (Fahrni) Nott. She was raised on the family farm and, after attending Newburg School most of her life, she attended Gilman High School for her senior year and graduated in 1959. In 1958, she married Terry Smith. Together, they had six children: Kevin, Brian, Toney, Ben, Lennie, and Tricia. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

Patsy dedicated her life to her family, her work, and her community. She worked hard on the family farm all the while raising five boys, served as the director of the Senior Center in Grinnell, owned and operated Sunrise Family Dining with her son Lennie, and drove a school bus for the Grinnell School District for over 30 years. She loved flowers, whether it be the wildflowers that grew in the ditches or the lilacs and peonies that would grow every spring. Her favorite flower was the white Shasta daisy, though because it always seemed so sunny.

A lover of music, Patsy played stand-up bass and sang in a bluegrass band, Rock Creek Country, and provided joy to many with her solos in church. She had the voice of an angel and could harmonize beautifully with almost any song. She found great joy in attending her children's school activities, sitting outside on a warm summers day and making sure her grandkids always had ice cream. She was deeply devoted to her family and made sure a birthday never passed by without a homemade meal and favorite dessert.

Patsy will be remembered as loving, kind, hard-working, strong-willed, and always willing to lend a hand. Her warm heart, sense of humor, and deep faith touched the lives of many.

Patsy is survived by her children, Kevin (Ronette) Smith of Kellogg, IA, Brian (Lisa) Smith of Rolla, MO, Toney Smith of Alda, NE, Ben (Vicki) Smith of Fort Worth, TX, Lennie (Lori) Smith of Oakland Acres, IA, and Tricia (Hawkeye) Caramazza of

Oskaloosa, IA; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and her siblings, Ruthie Cooling of Garwin, IA, Darrel (Sandra) Nott of Olive Branch, MS, Virginia (Jerry) Ekwall of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Lorine (Steve) Tullis of Ottumwa, IA, sister-in-laws Kay Nott of Marshalltown, IA, Sheryl Nott of House Springs, MO, and brother -in-law Delbert Kellogg of Marshalltown, IA; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter-in-law Nancy Smith; brothers Ron Nott and Gary Nott, sister Doris Kellogg; brother-in-laws Vernon Cooling and Jim Hurley.