Elisabeth Ann “Liz” Smelley, age 86, of Northport died January 12, 2019 at Hospice of West Alabama.Services will be held at Sunset Funeral Home Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 11:00 am with Rev. Paul Peeples, Rev. Zac Head and Rev. Matt Reed conducting the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service time. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Sunset Funeral Home a Dignity Memorial Provider is in charge of the arrangements.
Liz is preceded in death by her parents J. L. “Dick” and Marie Ennis Hagler; brother James Duffy Hagler; two grandsons Eric Sanford and Scott Sanford.
She loved her family dearly and is survived by her loving and attentive husband, James Bobby Smelley; three sons, Sam Nelson (Patty), Kenny Nelson, and Alan Smelley (Becky); three daughters, Susan Pumphrey (Mark), Diane Skelton and Debra Sanford (Bob); one brother Martin Hagler (Patsy); eleven grandchildren: eighteen great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews. Liz and Bobby celebrated 51 years of marriage in January 2018.
Liz graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School in 1950. She was employed with the State of Alabama Trade and Industrial Education Department as a financial assistant. She also worked at the Alabama Fire College for many years as the Bookstore Manager.
Liz was an active member of Union Chapel United Methodist Church, where she served as the choir director, a Sunday School teacher, and an officer at both the local and council level of United Methodist Women. She was a volunteer at West Alabama Hospice for ten years. Liz was a volunteer at Northport DCH for over 30 years. She served as a Lay Chaplain for DCH and received The Outstanding Volunteer Award for the state in 2002. She was also active with Focus on Senior Citizens, where she was named Mrs. Senior Tuscaloosa in 1992-1993.. She also delivered many meals to shut-ins with Meals on Wheels.
The pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons, Jeremy Nelson, Jerrod Pumphrey, Tyler Smelley, Trent Smelley, Josh Nelson, Coty Sanford, and Brylan Skelton. Honorary pallbearers ar members of Union Chapel United Methodist Church, members of Jennings Chapel United Methodist Church, Gay Davis, Northport DCH volunteers, and Northport DCH staff, and special friend Mary Swindle.
One of the greatest joys in life, including her family, was her love of nature and the beautiful flowers that filled her yard.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Comfort Care Hospice and Hospice of West Alabama.
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