Anita Joyce Smith

Graveside

Welcome

Thank you all for coming to celebrate the life of Joyce Smith. We have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Joyce. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

Prayer

Father God,

I thank you for the life of Joyce and I ask that your Spirit would surround the Smith family as they continue to mourn their loss. I ask that you would comfort them in their pain. That you would give them hope in knowing that they will see Joyce once more when it is their time to be called home. That you would give them strength by surrounding them with family member and friends who can help them during this time. I pray that they would find time in their mourning to remember all of the great times they had with Joyce and that it would bring a smile across their face and that laughter would fill the room. I thank you for all those who have come today to glorify you and to celebrate the life of Joyce. We give you all glory, honour, and praise.

Amen

Obituary

Anita Joyce Smith was born on August 6, 1931 in Snyder, TX to Edgar Benno and Sula Pauline (Bynum) vonRoeder. She married Kenneth Ray Smith on January 2, 1951. She graduated from SHS and Southwest, Texas Junior College in Uvalde. She started working for Snyder Daily news in the early 1970's and retired after 30 years of service. She was a member of 1st United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and a master seamstress. She enjoyed playing cards and trivia games. Mrs. Anita Joyce Smith died on Monday, February 22, 2021

She is survived by 3 daughters and Sons in Law Stephanie Knipe and husband Grant, Snyder, TX Paula Hood and husband Bruce, Thorndale, TX Cheryl Bouher and husband Bill, Spur, TX 4 Grandchildren Justin Hood and wife Stephanie of Montgomery, TX Shannon Priest and husband Ben of Montgomery, TX Corey Knipe of Snyder, TX Josh Bouher and wife Lisa of Pasco, WA 7 Great Grandchildren Jaden, Jordan, Jentry Hood Eli and Ava Priest Ashlyn and Jayton Bouher Many Nieces and Nephews

She is preceded in death by Parents Husband Kenneth Smith Sister Norma Chapman 2 Grandchildren Ashley Bouher Valerie Knipe

Family

Song

Scripture

Joyce was an incredibly loving woman. She very rarely missed a church service at the Methodist Church and every time I saw her she had a smile on her face. When I visited her she loved to point at the pictures around her house and talk about her children and her grandchildren and fill us in on their lives. She lit up every time you talked to her about her family and you could tell that she loved them all very deeply.

Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Joyce was an incredible woman and a blessing to her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Yet, even in the midst of our sorrow we can rejoice knowing that she knew God and had a personal relationship with Christ.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

As we lay to rest the body of Joyce we also need to understand that she is not here in this grave. The Lord was her shepherd and she followed God wherever he led her and now she has been led to throne of God to spend eternity with him and the loved ones who went before her. As you mourn your loss today take time to rejoice in the fact that she is with God and that she is no longer struggling with pain and sickness but is made whole. Remember the great times you had with her and share those memories with your loved ones.

Prayer/Committal

Almighty God,

   into your hands we commend your daughter Anita Joyce Smith,

   in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

   through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This body we commit to the ground

(to the elements, to its resting place),

   earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.                         (TRADITIONAL)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labors

   for their deeds follow them.                        (REVELATION 14:13, ALT.)

The Lord’s Prayer

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN,

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME.

THY WILL BE DONE

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US,

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,

AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY,

FOR EVER AND EVER

AMEN