Marylee Smith

Our beloved, Marylee, was born in Dresden, Tennessee to Cecil and Aberdeen Lowry and had two brothers and three sisters. Marylee leaves behind her loving husband of 62 years, Wilburn E. (Bill) Smith; three children: Sandra (John), Libby (Pete), and Keith (Barbara); eight grandchildren: Shelby, John Hampton, Jimmy, Chris, Carlie, Cameron, Brandon and Taylor; two great grandchildren: Jack and Tully; her sister Naomi, and many nieces and nephews. She was lovingly known as Mermee by her grandchildren, family and friends. She loved her family with all of her heart.

Mermee was a beautiful lady inside and out. She always believed in being your very best all of the time, and she pushed us and encouraged us to follow her example. She was independent, strong and positive - she read her Bible and prayed for us every day. As her family, we will cherish her memory and take away the things she taught us: be strong, pray, work hard, always strive to be your very best, eat healthy, and take care of yourself. Her grandchildren will treasure the stories she told them when they were young and the fun times they had with her in the country. As they became adults, she talked to them about their dreams and goals, about politics and the state of the world, and their daily activities. She loved them so much and was interested in everything they did. Each grandchild has special memories that they shared with their Mermee.

Mermee and her sister Naomi held together their family of nieces and nephews. They chatted for hours on the phone about everything – their daily call was a high point of her day. Mermee longed for the day to be reunited with her Mother and Daddy, brothers and sisters in heaven - and we have great joy knowing she is with them now.

We want to thank her precious friend and caretaker, Carrie. Carrie sang around the house, laughed with Mermee, and loved her and our dad. We also thank her dear friend Al who spent hours working with her in her yard, making it beautiful. Mermee loved them both dearly.

Mermee went back to college and got her Bachelors degree and Master’s degree after her children were grown. She taught speech at Virginia College, helped her husband with the family insurance business and had a career as a projects officer with the MS R&D Center. She was very proud of her accomplishments. Mermee expressed her love for nature’s beauty by creating beautiful floral arrangements for family occasions and serving as Chairman of the Flower Committee for her church.

One of Mermee’s notes said: “The Corinthians were to expect the best in their lives and in other people. To do so, they needed to connect with God’s power – now! “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (I Corinthians 3:5).

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 from 11:00 to 1:00 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Madison. A private family service will follow.

Memorials can be made to a charity of your choice.