Services for Emma Bell Smith, 83, of Marietta, will be held Saturday, May 23, in the First United Methodist Church, Marietta, with the Rev. Les Bussell officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta.

Born October 25, 1925 in Lewisville, Texas, the daughter of David Dewey and Lillie Mae Wallace Bassinger, she died Saturday, May 16, 2009 in Mercy Memorial Health Center, Ardmore.

Mrs. Smith had been a resident of Love County most of her life, moving here from Lewisville. She and Willis Smith were married September 2, 1944 in Marietta, and he preceded her in death on April 1, 1991. A graduate of Marietta High School, Mrs. Smith was a beautician for many years. She was an excellent cook, especially known throughout the area for her fried pies Mrs. Smith also enjoyed playing bingo and watching golf, rodeos, horse racing and cooking shows on television. Very active in community affairs, she had served on the Marietta City Council for almost 20 years. Mrs. Smith was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marietta.

Survivors include three nephews, Jerry Thurman and wife, Donna of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Jim and wife, Dee Dee of Fort Myer, Virginia, and David Bassinger and wife, Yvonne of Lewisville; niece, Glenda Revert, also of Lewisville; and special friends, Catherine Fannin, Kathryn Caldwell, Kathleen Caldwell and Bill and Betty Wolfe.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Dewey Bassinger; ad a sister, Nettie Mae Thurman.

Pallbearers will be Dub Bell, Steve Bell, Joe Bell, Ronnie Westfall, Ron Porter, John Kennedy, Herb Moore, Gene Washburn and Jim Coble Honorary pallbearers will be other members of the Marietta City Council.

Family visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund in care of the funeral home.

Source: Marietta Monitor, 22 May 2009, Page 4