Ethel (Casady) Smith was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 8th, 1924, to the marriage of Wayne & Esther (Ash) Casady. She was the youngest of the (2) daughters born to this union. Her parents and elder sister, Helen (Casady) Runciman, preceded her in death. Ethel spoke of her parents & sister daily, right up to the day of her passing on October 4th, 2016, at her home on the family farm at Indianola.
In her youth, Ethel lived on the Ash family farm, (now the Garden Barn), north of Indianola and on the Casady family farm in the Otter Creek area, south of Indianola. During WWII, she & her sister helped their parents purchase their farm west of Indianola on what is now "Y" Street. She attended country schools, (& had to behave herself as her father served as county superintendent of schools), before matriculating to and graduating the Indianola High School. She studied at Simpson College for one during WWII before moving to Des Moines where she trained and worked as a legal secretary.
On June 8th, 1945, her 21st birthday, she married Bernard Sayre Smith at the Chapel on the Simpson College campus. They resided together on the Smith Family Farm from the time of their marriage until Bernard's' passing on Memorial Day, 2014.
One son, Dan, of Indianola, was born to their marriage. From his marriage they have (2) grandsons, Wayne of Indianola and Matt (Jen) of Norwalk, and (3) great - granddaughters, Addison, Leila & Everly. They also were blessed with a new daughter - law, Elaine (Bales) Smith, & (3) new sons, David Clark, Zac Bales - Henry and Jacob (Megan) Bales - Henry, in 2014.
Ethel loved all of her children greatly & that love extended to her nieces & nephews, as well as the youth of the community. She served as girls 4 - H leader & Cub Scout den mother, in addition to her work on & off the farm, as well as in numerous capacities with church, government & civic organizations.
After her marriage, she continued her work as a legal secretary with law firms in Indianola. She also worked as the office deputy for the Warren County Sheriff's Department under (2) separate administration. After a short respite, she was recruited to return to employment by Bill Buxton, president of the Peoples Trust & Savings Bank where she worked in numerous capacities until she "retired" after 28 years, as a senior officer, & then formed a clerking company. Many people still recall her smile as she sat across the table, took their information or helped them "settle up" at auctions, just as some remember her as the "egg lady" when the family had thousands of laying hens and a local egg delivery route.
She never shirked her duties in the community, serving tirelessly & for decades on numerous boards & committees. She was proud of her abilities as a woman who was able to build & shape a better world. She helped form & & served as president of the local chapter of the Business & Professional Women. She & Bernard had been members of the Iowa Junior Farm Bureau so it was just natural that they serve as members of the Warren County Farm Bureau Board, where they were recognized for their decades of service. They were also originating members of the Hoosier Row Community Center. She also served on the Warren County Zoning Commission and the Warren County Republican Central Committee, as well as many others.
Some people will also remember her as the lady who baked & decorated their wedding or anniversary or birthday cake, a skill she willingly passed along to anyone who was willing to learn. But, the work that she valued most of all was with church organizations. For many years, she worked with her friend, Geneva Hoover, as the book & record keeper of the North River Cemetery Association. North River was her first church & many of her ancestors are interred in the cemetery at the little country church where also will be laid to rest.
Center Chapel, the little church on the curve of the road would eventually become her church family & home. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, but she worked longest & hardest as the keeper of the books, trying her best to secure the future of the new little church on the curve of the road.
Her memorial service will be held at Center Chapel on Saturday, October 15th, with family visitation & greeting from 10:30 - 11:30, followed by the memorial service & a luncheon in the church dining hall. All friends, family & acquaintance are welcome to come & join in the celebration of her life & spirit.  Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com.