Mary Jo Vail Smelley

A visitation for Mary will be held Monday, January 23, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108, followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 PM. She will be laid to rest at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Bienville Parish.

Mary Jo Vail Smelley was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana to the late Elyot Heman Vail and Mary Magnolia Pyles Vail on February 2, 1939. She married James Don Smelley and together raised four beautiful daughters. She retired from the Louisiana Ammunition Plant after many years of service. Mary lived her life to the fullest. She enjoyed playing cards and dominos, working jigsaw puzzles, crocheting and most of all spending time with her family. Mary was fun loving, cheerful and had a very quick sense of humor. She never met a stranger. She went to her heavenly home surrounded by her family on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the age of 83.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; parents; sister, Marjorie Nell Nelson and Eddie Ashley.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Shelia and Ricky Rowell, Kay and Rick Tuggle, Pam and Tim Brashear and Donna and Fred Parker; grandchildren, Stacy Tuggle, Clint Marsh (Shannon), Crystal Marsh, Kerry Marsh, Kevin Marsh, Joey Rowell, Dee Marsh, and Stephanie Parker; 10 great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren; two siblings, Richard and Judy Vail and LaDonna Jean Vail; sister-in-law, Jean Emmons; close cousins, Mauverine Walker and Barbara Bell; nieces, nephews and numerous extended family members.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Garden Park Nursing Home especially, Lloyd and Laura and the staff at Christus Hospice especially, Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601.