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Helen Rebecca Smith, age 77, peacefully left this earth on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, after a lengthy illness. She was born September 10, 1945, in Ouachita County, AR to the late James Huey Cook and Leota (Burr) Cook.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Monticello. Being a homemaker, she was known for babysitting many children over the years, and from that, those families became part of our family. She loved caring for animals and taught her children and the others she helped raise, how to be compassionate and good to people. Helen was selfless and helped anyone anyway she could. Also for many years, she was active in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at the local airport.
Helen loved music and had a beautiful voice, which many people had never heard. Back in high school at Harmony Grove, her and two of her friends were the entertainment at the school dances with their music teacher at the piano. She played handbells at the Church and made sure all four of her children knew how to read music by taking piano lessons, playing the clarinet in the Drew Central Band, along with singing in school and church youth choirs. She attended Arkansas A&M University (now UAM) where she met the university’s electrician Travis, also well known as “Smitty”. They were married for 50 years until his passing.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by seven half-brothers and sisters; her husband of 50 years, Travis Jackson Smith “Smitty”; her only son, James Jackson Smith; and her only sibling, Mary Gail Pitts and husband, Wendell Pitts.
She is survived by three daughters, Susan Johnson and husband Mark of Emerson, Tracasa Cooper and husband Donavon of Monticello and Deanna Isacson and husband Jeff of Menomonee Falls, WI; four grandchildren, Steven Cooper, Haley Johnson, Jackson Johnson and Asa Isacson; step grandchildren, Melissa Kimball Schenkel and husband Kendall and William Kimball; along with many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Smith Cemetery in Banks, AR. There will be a visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. You can sign Mrs. Helen’s guestbook page at www.stephensondearman.com.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Monticello. Being a homemaker, she was known for babysitting many children over the years, and from that, those families became part of our family. She loved caring for animals and taught her children and the others she helped raise, how to be compassionate and good to people. Helen was selfless and helped anyone anyway she could. Also for many years, she was active in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at the local airport.
Helen loved music and had a beautiful voice, which many people had never heard. Back in high school at Harmony Grove, her and two of her friends were the entertainment at the school dances with their music teacher at the piano. She played handbells at the Church and made sure all four of her children knew how to read music by taking piano lessons, playing the clarinet in the Drew Central Band, along with singing in school and church youth choirs. She attended Arkansas A&M University (now UAM) where she met the university’s electrician Travis, also well known as “Smitty”. They were married for 50 years until his passing.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by seven half-brothers and sisters; her husband of 50 years, Travis Jackson Smith “Smitty”; her only son, James Jackson Smith; and her only sibling, Mary Gail Pitts and husband, Wendell Pitts.
She is survived by three daughters, Susan Johnson and husband Mark of Emerson, Tracasa Cooper and husband Donavon of Monticello and Deanna Isacson and husband Jeff of Menomonee Falls, WI; four grandchildren, Steven Cooper, Haley Johnson, Jackson Johnson and Asa Isacson; step grandchildren, Melissa Kimball Schenkel and husband Kendall and William Kimball; along with many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Smith Cemetery in Banks, AR. There will be a visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. You can sign Mrs. Helen’s guestbook page at www.stephensondearman.com.