Laurel Edene Smith, the daughter of William J. and Edene S. (Olson) Brown was born November 15, 1938 at Schell City, Missouri. She passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at the Red Oak Good Samaritan Society, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 3 days. Laurel was raised in Missouri and Nebraska, when as a young girl the family moved to the Elliott, Iowa area. She attended high school in Elliott. Laurel was united in marriage to Ira Elwood on May 1, 1955, and to this union five children were born. She was a hard worker and over the years worked for Uniroyal in Red Oak, was a custodian at the Stanton elementary school, and later a jailer for the Montgomery County Sheriff Department. On December 25, l967, Laurel was united in marriage to Donald M. Smith in Stanton, Iowa. They made Stanton their home and in 2011 Laurel moved to Red Oak. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, bowling and was a big Elvis Presley fan. Laurel had a kind heart and would do what she could to help others in need. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary in Red Oak. Laurel was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Smith on October 21, 2008; 3 brothers: David, Dennis and William, and an infant brother. Laurel is survived by her sons and their wives: Mick (Sheryl) Smith of Palermo, ME; Lloyd (Vicki) Smith of Elliott, IA; Rusty (Jann) Elwood of Villisca, IA; Kent (Dena) Elwood of Red Oak, IA; Tom (Christi) Elwood of Stanton, IA; daughters and their husbands: Jackie (Donald) Grassia of McCook, NE; Susan (Kirk) McConnell of Nixa, MO; 29 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; brothers: Howard (Arline) Brown of Keota, IA; Donald (Barbara) Brown of Elliott, IA; Richard (Connie) Brown of Pella, IA; Charles (Cheryl) Brown of Marshalltown, IA; sisters: Georgia Rensch of Red Oak, IA; Rose (Robert) Keast of Red Oak, IA; Rhonda (Gary) Wickering of Marshalltown, IA; nieces, nephews, along with other relatives and friends. May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.
