Joanna Rae Smith

Joanna Rae (Foster) Smith, age 84, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020, at her home in Joplin, Missouri.   Joanna was born August 19, 1935 in Dade County, MO. She was the youngest child of seven born to Grace (Head) Foster and James Claude Foster. She was raised in the Irwin area. She graduated from Lamar High School in May 1953. She married Duane Cross on October 9, 1953 and to this union four children were born; Jon Karlan Cross, Diana Marie Cross, Mark Lane Cross and Karen Sue Cross. They lived in the Milford, MO area where they raised beef cattle and operated Cross Machinery and Salvage. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1977.   Joanna worked as a receptionist for 7 1/2 years at Finley Engineering Company in Lamar. From 1985 - 1996 she was a contract turkey grower for Con Agra Poultry Company of Carthage, MO. In 1987 she received two awards; one for "Best Tom Flock of the Year" and one for "The Best Tom Flock Grower of the Year".    On August 19, 1989, she married Howard Smith, and in 1997 they moved to the Sheldon area and continued to raise beef cattle.   Survivors include her husband, Howard Smith; four sons, Jon (Chris) Cross, Lamar, Mark (Marilyn) Cross, Lamar, Tim Smith, Lahaina, Hawaii and Mike (Beverly) Smith, Lamar; three daughters, Diana (Robert) Enright, Lamar, Karen Cross (and fiance Sam Eldridge), Lamar and Kim Smith, Lees Summit, MO; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; her sister, Betty Holman, Dearborn Heights, Michigan and sister-in-law, Joyce Foster of Lakeland, Florida.   Preceding Joanna in death were her parents, Grace and J.C. Foster; four brothers, John Leon Foster, Floyd Leo Foster, Fred Edward Foster and Richard Lee Foster and one sister, Imogene Irene Mills.   Joanna and her husband Howard were former members of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lamar and had the blessing of helping to establish and be a part of building this church. She had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Lamar for the last several years.   Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Daniel Funeral Home with burial to follow in Barton City Cemetery.   Contributions are suggested and made payable to the donor's choice in care of Daniel Funeral Home.   Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com