Rebecca J. Smith

Rebecca J. Smith, age 49, of Lamar, passed away Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield.       Shortly after Rebecca was born August 19, 1963 in Los Angeles, California, she moved with her family to Lamar where she graduated from Lamar High School in 1981.  She later earned an associates degree in business management.  Rebecca was a sales clerk and cashier for her family's business, Johnson's Auction, throughout her life.  Her propensity for cleanliness made her an excellent employee of Merry Maids in Kansas City for a short time, but her love of children drew her to her primary career as a child care provider.  Her creativity, artistic ability, and enthusiasm for life were gifts she readily shared and she will be fondly remembered as "Papa", not only by her own grandchildren, but by countless children she thought of as her own.  She also mentored many girls as a Girl Scout Leader through the years and was an active member and past-president of Lamar Optimists.  Her giving spirit was evident even in death, as her decision to be an organ donor provided new life for two recipients.      Survivors include her fiancé, Michael Fletcher, of the home; three daughters, Hope (Wes) Crockett, Lamar, Molly Smith, Springfield, and Brittney Fletcher of the home; three grandchildren, Skyler, Draden & Ever Crockett, Lamar; her parents, Walter & Juanita Johnson, Lamar; three brothers, Alan (Trudy) Chaput, Stockton, Henry (Jerri) Mankey, Lawton, Oklahoma, and Daniel (Denise) Mankey, rural Lamar; three sisters, Susan (Brent) Asbell, Jasper, Yvonne (fiancé, Matthew LeGrand) Boyd and her son Chance Broughton all of Lamar, and RoseAnn (Steve) Dalton, Springfield; many nieces and nephews and a large extended family.  She was preceded in death by a sister, Joy Ann Lamberson Klock.      Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10th, at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.  A private family committal service will be held at Howell Cemetery.      Memorial contributions are suggested to American Diabetes Association or Lupus Foundation in care of the funeral home.