Jo Smith

Jo Smith was born Theresa Joanne Cumley, on November 20, 1934, in Olathe, Kansas. Jo was the youngest of six children, Margaret (Goggie); Harry (Bud); Della; Bette Jane; and Shirley (Shug). She was a "change of life" baby, and did she ever change all our lives!

Jo graduated from St. Agnes High School in Fairway, KS, in May 1952 and immediately got a job at the Johnson County Welfare Office in Olathe. The day after her 18th birthday that same year, Jo went on her first date with a handsome Tech. Sgt. who was home on leave. Before her date arrived at the door, her sister, Shug, warned Jo, "Don't go out with that guy because he's a wild one!" That 'guy' was Ray Smith. Five weeks later, on Christmas Eve, Ray proposed to Jo, and they were married six weeks after, on February 7, 1953. Ray and Jo made their first move to Forbes AFB in Topeka, KS, with $47.00 between them. Ray was assigned to Fairchild AFB in WA, where Cheri was born in September 1954. Carol was born at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, not quite a full 12 months later in September 1955. They were then stationed at Lowry AFB, in Denver, CO, for a short period and then on to Hamilton AFB, in Novato, CA where Cathy was born in October 1956. Travis AFB was next in Fairfield, CA, where Steve, Mark, and Colleen were welcomed into the tribe in January 1958, May 1959 and July 1961. While Ray was deployed in Goose Bay, Labrador, in 1961, Jo returned with the six kids to Olathe. A short 1961 Christmas R & R surprised them in the fall of 1962 with the birth of twins, Barb and Bev. The family of 10 moved to Richards-Gebaur AFB, Belton, MO, then to Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, CO; and overseas to Kanto Mura AFB in Japan. In December 1970, Jo brought the kids home to Olathe for 18 months while Ray served in Vietnam. Their last two military moves were at Peterson AFB, in Colorado Springs, CO, and back to Richards-Gebaur, where Ray retired from the Air Force after 31 years. Certainly, a remarkable number of locales for a young woman who'd not previously been what you'd call a "world traveler."

At the ripe age of four, Jo taught herself to play the piano. Jo became so accomplished so quickly, our Grandma Cumley took her to the Kansas City Music Conservatory for an evaluation. She competed against girls more than twice her age, earning a V++ rating, higher than the others. Subsequently, she took lessons in Olathe and learned how to read music. She played the keyboards with such ease she could listen to a song on the radio and play it within minutes. Jo became the St. Paul's Church organist as a small girl, so small she could not reach the pedals. Shug, who admittedly did NOT have a keen sense of music, attempted to play the pedals and when she'd hit a sour note, Jo would kick her in the shins. Jo was the church organist at many of the bases we'd lived. She taught all her kids to harmonize while helping make dinner or doing dishes. She said it was better to hear us singing than arguing.

Jo was an excellent cook. It was not unusual for Ray to announce that he was bringing home "a few" people for dinner at the last minute. She could turn on a dime and would have dinner waiting when guests arrived. She would also enlist her girls and make 500 wontons without breaking a sweat. No one made a pie like Jo Smith. She could whip up over a dozen pies while telling stories and sharing a cup of coffee. Jo always made pies for the parish funeral dinners, never forgetting to make an extra for the resident priest. The parishioners loved her pies, and so did we.

Jo taught herself to sew, eventually becoming an excellent seamstress. To save money she'd modify one pattern to fit six various sized girls. Jo made gorgeous First Communion and wedding dresses for her daughters and granddaughters and "too many to count" matching Easter outfits and summer clothes too..

Funds at the Smith house were tight, and Jo loved to bowl. She addressed that shortage by becoming the Officers Club Bowling League secretary because they waived her fees! At night, after packing eight lunches and the kids were in bed, she sat up for hours calculating bowling averages, league standings, and weekly statistics for both leagues. Weekly bowling became Jo and Ray's date night. Jo served on numerous Officers Wives Clubs Boards serving various roles, ultimately becoming President. Never having met a stranger, her "outgoing nature and powers of persuasion," she led her team to become the highest revenue-producing Officers Wives Club in history. Towering over her Japanese friends, she used her Irish charm to negotiate a better discount from the far east vendors, ensuring a higher profit margin for the Wives Club.

During Ray's Vietnam deployment, Jo taught the St. Paul's Catholic School Rhythm Band. The band was prominently featured on the front page of the Olathe Daily News, which "tickled" her, for the kid's sake.

After Ray's retirement, Jo and Ray both received their realtor's licenses. Jo was a natural after all the houses she had moved into. Jo became a top producer in her brokerage within a year. After all the kids were gone, she worked at Olathe South High School for thirteen years as the Attendance Secretary. When the kids would offer some half-baked explanation for an unexcused absence, she tell them, "Listen friend, I've had eight kids and I've heard it all; so you'd better get some new material. Take a seat and the Principal will be with you in short order."

Although Ray got all the accolades, Jo dutifully honored the rigors necessary that Ray's military commitment required. She never questioned where he was being sent on a mission and ran the household like a well-oiled machine without so much as a sweat. When some of her own siblings passed, she took up the torch and offered her love and support to countless nieces and nephews she then considered her own kids. Exceedingly proud that she and Ray were native Olatheans, one year, the Olathe Daily News featured them on the front page, sharing their most cherished "Old Olathe" memories.

Jo lived as a strong Catholic woman, wife, and mother. She cherished the title of "Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and eventually Great-Great Grandmother" too. Our "Wild Irish Rose" loved one man her entire life – Ray Smith, the "Wild One."

The Rosary will be prayed at 5:30pm on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish, 555 W. Main St., Gardner, KS 66030 with the visitation immediately following until 8:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00am on Saturday, April 29, 2023, also at Divine Mercy. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 15800 South Hwy, US-169, Olathe, KS 66062. There will be a family luncheon at Divine Mercy following the graveside on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 12:30pm-2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Catherine L. Smith scholarship fund at Olathe Public Schools Foundation > Scholarships.

~Mom, you are an extraordinary woman and we are fortunate to have loved you so. Fly high on eagle's wings and with any Irish luck, we'll see you again.


To leave a message of condolence for Jo's family or to share a special memory of Jo, please visit the guestbook below.