Laudell Dahmer Smith

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Laudell Dahmer Smith, 92, Independence, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at Rosewood Health & Rehab Center, in Independence. She was born Jan. 6, 1921, to Charles E. Dahmer and Mary (Monroe) Dahmer near Nevada, Mo. She attended grade school in Milo, Mo., and graduated from high school in Nevada, in 1939. After graduation, she was employed at an agriculture office and S.H. Kress and Co. in Nevada. In 1942, she went to Kansas City, Mo., to work for Hallmark Cards and later at North American Aircraft Company in North Kansas City, helping make B-25 planes used in World War II.

On Feb. 14, 1943, she married Ronald C. Smith in Kansas City, living there until moving to Washington state, where they both worked at Waggoner Lumber Co., making ammunition boxes for the war effort. They returned to Nevada in 1944 and lived there until 1949, when they returned to Wenatchee, Wash., to make their home. In 1959, they moved to East Wenatchee and resided there until December 2010.

Laudell was an active member in the Community of Christ Church, where she served as Sunday school teacher, woman's leader, social leader, and did the floral arrangements. She was also active in school activities for her four daughters.

She started working at People's Dept. Store in 1965, where she was a buyer and clerk for 15 years. Retiring in June 1979, she took a flower arranging class and used her talents to make arrangements for her church, family and friends.

Laudell is survived by four daughters, Carolyn Beckham of Independence, Mo., Donna Ingram and husband, J.D., of Independence, Fran Smith of East Wenatchee, and Pamela Ash and husband, Jim, of Liberty, Mo.; six grandchildren, Vicki (Beckham) Benson, Jennifer (Ingram) Imhoff, Jeff Beckham, Ben Ingram, Cassie Ash, and Lisa Ash; and five great-grandchildren, Abby Benson, Brayden Ingram, Emily Benson, Brynn Ingram and Lola Imhoff. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years; mother; father; and five brothers, Virgil, Maurice, Troy, Denton and Glenn.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Newton Burial Park in Nevada, with J.D. Ingram and James A. Ash officiating. Visitation be will from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service at Ferry Funeral Home. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Contributions may be made in Laudell's name to healthedconnect.org, in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.