Helen Smith
Helen Margaret Smith went to be with her Lord and Savior peacefully on March 14, 2023, at the age of 98 in El Reno.
She was born near Okarche on Aug. 31, 1924.
She grew up on a farm west of Okarche, the second oldest of 11 children of John and Mildred (Higdon) Hufnagel.
She attended Holy Trinity Catholic grade school and high school, graduating in 1942.
After high school she attended Oklahoma A & M (OSU) in Stillwater, working as a housekeeper for her room and board while attending classes. She later left school and took a job at Mustang Field.
In late 1944 her future husband, Captain Tom Smith, returned from duty in the European Theater.
They began dating and later married on Jan. 1, 1945, in Roswell, N.M., where Tom was stationed.
Their first born, Kelly, was born Sept. 28, 1945, in Carlsbad, N.M.
After the war ended, Tom was transferred to the Pacific. Helen and Kelly returned to Okarche where they lived with her parents.
In 1947, Tom separated from the Air Corps.
The couple tried their hand at farming east of Okarche.
During that time, sons Lee and Ken were born. Later the couple moved to Okarche when Tom worked at Aero Sprayers in Kingfi sher.
With the poor post-war economy, the family moved to Wichita, Kan., where Helen and Tom were both employed by Boeing Aircraft Corp.
The family returned to Okarche in 1958, Tom returning to fly at Aero Sprayers and Helen would work as a bookkeeper.
In 1960 the family reinto turned to Kingfisher.
Helen and Tom started their own business in 1962, U.S. Aerial Sprayers in Okarche where they established their home.
Helen was instrumental in running the ground part of the business, handling logistics, booking and accounting.
After they retired, Helen was able to devote all of her time to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she doted on with great delight.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tom; son, Kelly; daughter-in-law, Vicki (Mosher) Smith; and two sisters and four brothers.
She is survived by sons Kenneth and wife Pam of Okarche and Lee and wife Sherry of Hermann, Mo.; grandchildren Becky Vogt (Shawn) of Okarche, Sarah Barnes of Fort Lauderdale, Blaine Smith (Erin) of Edmond, Cy Smith (Selena) of Kingfisher, Jesse Smith (Brandy) of Kingfisher, Chad Smith (Michell) of Edmond, Cortnee Hawk (Kevin) of Okarche and Seth Smith (Vanessa) of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held in El Reno on Friday, March 17, in the chapel of Huber- Benson Funeral Home with Deacon Max Schwarz officiating.
Burial followed at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Okarche.