Obituary for Judith Kay Smith (Branch)
Judith Kay Smith, 79, Lee’s Summit, Missouri passed away Friday, July 3, 2020 at Autumn Terrace Health and Rehabilitation, Raytown, Missouri. Celebration of Life will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2020 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 South Center, Gardner, Kansas 66030 (913) 856-7111. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Cremation to follow. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com Memorial contributions may be made to Food For The Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 www.foodforthepoor.org
Judy was born April 7, 1941 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Leslie Joseph and Clara Marie (Reynolds) Branch. She grew up in Iowa, graduating from Fort Madison High School. She attended community college in Marshall, Missouri. Judy married Vencil H. Smith in 1957 in Fort Madison, Iowa. She worked in student administration at University of Kansas for over 15 years. Judy lived most of her adult life in Eudora, Kansas before moving to Lee’s Summit, Missouri 10 years ago. Judy’s faith was Catholic. She enjoyed oil and acrylic painting and crocheting. Judy loved life and spending time with her grandchildren. Most people remember Judy for her love of baking cakes and singing karaoke!
Judy was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vencil in 2008 and infant son. She is survived by her sons: Jody J. (Cindy) Smith, Kingman, Arizona, Michael (Anita) Smith, Wellsville, Kansas, Bill (Melissa) Smith, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Richard Smith, Rantoul, Kansas; siblings: Nancy Schaefer, Louisburg, Kansas, Bud Branch, Bernice, Oklahoma and Kathy Troll, Gardner, Kansas; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Judy was born April 7, 1941 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Leslie Joseph and Clara Marie (Reynolds) Branch. She grew up in Iowa, graduating from Fort Madison High School. She attended community college in Marshall, Missouri. Judy married Vencil H. Smith in 1957 in Fort Madison, Iowa. She worked in student administration at University of Kansas for over 15 years. Judy lived most of her adult life in Eudora, Kansas before moving to Lee’s Summit, Missouri 10 years ago. Judy’s faith was Catholic. She enjoyed oil and acrylic painting and crocheting. Judy loved life and spending time with her grandchildren. Most people remember Judy for her love of baking cakes and singing karaoke!
Judy was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vencil in 2008 and infant son. She is survived by her sons: Jody J. (Cindy) Smith, Kingman, Arizona, Michael (Anita) Smith, Wellsville, Kansas, Bill (Melissa) Smith, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Richard Smith, Rantoul, Kansas; siblings: Nancy Schaefer, Louisburg, Kansas, Bud Branch, Bernice, Oklahoma and Kathy Troll, Gardner, Kansas; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.