Rosie Mildred (Patak) Smith was born in the midst of the Roaring 20’s on October 14, 1925 to Mary and Frank Patak. She was born in a small Czech farming community known as Prague, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of six children, three wonderful sisters, Leda, Hattie and Mary and two special brothers, Jerry and Henry. She spent her early years doing farm chores, picking cotton and “Turkey Watching.” She Participated in Community Plays and helped the local Czech women with their English so they could pass their tests to become US Citizens. She spent her teenage years driving the Model A and going to dances. At one of these dances, she met a young Navy Chief, named William (Bill) Smith in 1946. They married a year later on June 2, 1947. They had three children, Jeanne, born in New Orleans Louisiana, Carolyn, born in Guam and Mike, born in Brunswick Georgia. After spending much of her married life as a Navy wife exploring the South Pacific, including three and a half years in Hawaii in the mid 1950’s, the family finally settled in Dallas, Texas. She became a working Mom with a long time career at Sears. She finally retired after thirty five years.
Rosie was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters and brothers, her husband, William A. Smith and her dear son, Mike. She is survived by daughter Jeanne Smith (Bill), daughter Carolyn Helm and daughter-in-law, Ronda Smith. As well as her grandchildren Dava (Mike), David (Jamie), Conni (Scot), Matthew (Maricela), Heather, Michael (Taryn), Allisen (Dominick), and Russell (Theresa). She is also survived by many great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren as well as her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She is a testament to a life well lived and leaves a beautiful legacy of family and will be remembered and loved by all who knew her.
