submitted by Vicky Eads
“Lamar Daily News” Friday, May 17,1957 —page 1
SMITH RITES PENDING
Funeral services are pending for Mrs. Mable J. Smith, 66-year-old Lamar woman who took her life in a leap from John Martin Reservoir dam Thursday afternoon.
The arrangements will be completed when relatives arrive, the Wood Funeral home announced.
Her husband, Henley Smith, retired Lamar postal employee, was only a few feet away when Mrs. Smith climbed through a guard rail and jumped from the north end of the dam. Smith made a desperate effort to reach her but was too late. She was believed killed instantly when her body struck concrete in the fall of approximately 100 feet.
Mrs. Smith had been in ill health the past few months.
Survivors other than her husband, include a son, Donald S. Green, San Francisco ; three brothers, Raymond M. McMillin, Carlton , Donald J. McMillin, Lamar, Wilmer J. McMillin, Denver ; a sister, Mrs. Coral Gentry, Lamar, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Smith was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Marsena J. McMillin. She was a member of the First Methodist church and the Order of the Eastern Star.
“Lamar Daily News” Saturday, May 18, 1957 —page 1
PRIVATE SERVICE TO BE HELD FOR MRS. H. SMITH
Private services are planned tomorrow afternoon at 2 at the Wood Funeral Home chapel for Mrs. Henley Smith. The Rev. Milfred E. Douglas, minister of the First Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be in Fairmount cemetery.
“Lamar Daily News” Wednesday, May 22, 1957 —page 3
MABLE J. SMITH SERVICE HELD
Funeral services were held Sunday, May 19 at 2 pm for Mrs. Mable J. Smith, at the Wood Funeral Home chapel. The reverend Milfred Douglas officiated.
Organist at the private family memorial was Mrs. R. Clark Jones, Mrs. Betty Geringer and Mrs. Ruth Northrup, vocalists, sang “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” and “Closer Still with Thee”.
Pall bearers were E.H. Applegate, George Sprout, Harold Merrifield, Wayne Downing, Giles H. Strong and John Hiigel. Burial took place in the family plot at Fairmount cemetery.
A very large and beautiful floral offering was given in tribute to Mrs. Smith.
Obituary
Mable Jean Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marsena J. McMillin, was born Sept. 14, 1891 , at the McMillin ranch near Carlton , Colo. , and died May 16, 1957.
She attended the Lamar School and was graduated from Lamar Union high school and Colorado Teachers college, Greeley. She taught for a short time before her marriage, December 25, 1912, to Ralph S. Green, who preceded her in death. One son was born, Donald S. Green, San Francisco, Calif.
After her husband’s death, she taught in the public schools in Canon City and in Lamar school. She was office assistant for Dr. N.M. Burnett until the doctor’s death and later worked with Dr. John E. Nienhuis.
She was married to June 11, 1922 to Henley R. Smith, who survives her.
She is also survived by her brothers, Raymond M. McMillin, Carlton , Donald C. McMillin, Lamar, and Wilmer J. McMillin, Denver , and a sister, Mrs. Coral Gentry, Lamar. Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Evelyn Durham, also lives in Lamar, and a number of nieces and nephews are living: Mrs. Farrell Higbee, Scottsbluff , Neb ; Mrs. James Hill, Denver , Dr. James C. McMillin, Buhl, Ida, Curtis Gentry, San Francisco, Robert C. McMillin and George Pat Gentry, Fort Collins, and great nieces and nephews, Craig and Cory McMillin and Donnie and Janet McMillin.
She was a faithful member of the Methodist church singing in the choir for many years and making many sick calls. She organized a riding group and taught over 400 people to ride and love horses.
She was a charter member of the American Legion auxiliary and the Lamar Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was a mother advisor in the Lamar Rainbow assembly several years, a past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of its past Matron’s club and of the Colorado Women’s club.
The following poem was a favorite of both Mrs. Smith and her mother.
The Living Epitaph
When I pass on, and my time is spent
I hope for no lofty monument.
No pomp and glory I care for then
When I depart from the world of men.
But I’d like to think when my race is through
That there will be in the world a few
Who’ll say, “Well there is a good one gone,
I’m sorry to see her passing on”.
For she was a sort that’s fair and square
The kind of a one that’s hard to spare.
Her eyes were true and her laugh was clear
And now that her work is at an end
I know how much I shall miss my friend.
If my life shall earn such words as those,
I shall smile in peace when my eyelids close.
I shall rest in the quiet and lie content
With the words of my friends for my monument.
Berton Braley