Grace D. Smith

Grace Darlene Smith, 82, of Waukee, Iowa, formerly of Clear Lake, died on Oct. 26, 2016, in Johnston, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, at Ernst Funeral Home, Waukee.  Interment was at the Waukee Cemetery.

Grace was born to Louis and Lillian Faye (Rice) Hansen on March 20, 1934, in Eagle Grove, Iowa.

She graduated from Mason City High School.  In 1955, she married the love of her life, Kenneth L. Smith, in Mason City.  Together they moved to a small farm house in rural Thornton, Iowa.  In 1961 they adopted a daughter who they named Cynthia Lee Smith and then moved to rural Clear Lake, where they resided on Cedar Avenue.

     Grace was a Mercy Registered Nurse.  She loved cats, and welcomed many into her home giving them a second chance at life.  Grace had a heart of gold which could be seen by her involvement in neighborhood activities and the support and love she extended to her nieces and nephews.

     Grace is survived by her daughter, Cynthia (Thomas) Bower, of Waukee; granddaughter, Lily Grace (Aaron) Ilvess, of Des Moines, Iowa; great-grandchildren Alexandria, Quinton and Hunter Ilvess; several sisters and brothers-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; and two sisters.

Memorials may be directed to any Wells Fargo in Grace’s memory.  The family also requested that those attending the service bring name brand cat food, which was donated in Grace’s memory to the ARL of Iowa, or laundry detergent and canned meat for the Waukee Christian Food Bank.

Family and friends who would care to share photos of Grace for her Memorial Photo Video can email them to: [email protected].