Oma Smith

Oma Jo Walker Smith, 87, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Hendrick Hospice Care. Visitation will be Sunday, February 25, 2018 from 2:00 till 4:00 PM at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Monday, February 26, 2018 in the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow the service in the Tye Cemetery.
Oma Jo was born August 5, 1930 to Walter and Jannie Fowler VanZandt. She grew up learning to become a hard worker by leaving school early and working in the cotton fields with her family. As they farmed the land the family lived in a tent by the river when she was a child. She married Grady Walker in 1948 and they made their home and raised the family in the Abilene area until his passing in 1971. Later in 1973 she married Carl Smith and they travelled while he served in the Air Force. They were married twenty years and lived in Tye until his passing in 1991.
She was a member of the Church of God. She loved to fish and take fishing trips with the grandkids. Show was known for her cooking and baking and enjoyed sneaking a roll to her grandchildren when no one was watching. During the Christmas season she would spend her time making candy and delivering to all her friends and family. She also loved working in her gardens and had a green thumb. She often told her daughters, "flowers are a waste of soil, you should plant something that you can eat"
Oma Jo is survived by one son, Kenneth Ruthford; two daughters, Kay Davis and Jean McCardell and husband Mel; nine grandchildren, Janie Ogle and husband Mike, Jason Davis and wife Dana, Justin Davis and wife Cne', Kevin Davis and wife Chella; Mel McCardell and wife Mandy, Chris McCardell, Sheree Mccardell and husband Paul, Michael McCardell and wife Amy, and Joseph McCardell and wife Rebecca; twenty-four great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Walker; her 2nd husband, Carl Smith; one son, Grady Walker Jr. one grandson, Jimmy McCardell; one granddaughter, Felicha Nash; one sister, Lillian McAfee; four brothers, Tom Vanzandt, Bob Vanzandt, Jiggs Vanzandt, Joe Vanzandt; and her parents.
Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family through the obituary link at www.elmwoodfuneral.com

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Sunday, February 25, 2018
2:00 - 4:00 PM

Service

Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Monday, February 26, 2018
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Tye Cemetery
Tye, TX  79563