Marie Smith

Amy Marie Wood Smith passed peacefully Wednesday morning August 23, 2023, at Grace Manor Care Center in Burlington, Colorado.  Marie was 87 years old.

Neal and Loraine Wood welcomed Amy Marie into their arms on May 27^th, 1936, in Burlington Colorado. She was the oldest of three children.  Being the namesake of her Aunt Amy May Wood, she grew up using and being known by all her friends and family as Marie.

When Marie was 3 years old her family moved to King Hill, Idaho.

Six years later they moved back to Burlington for a few months, then they moved to various places in Kansas.  Their family moved back to the Burlington area in 1948.

Marie grew up like so many children in that era playing in the dirt and cultivating a great imagination.  “Driving” many miles with her sister Evelyn and brother Don in their broken-down car.  Milking cows before school and having to rush in and wash their faces after being swished with a sometimes not so clean tail.

Marie graduated from Stratton High School with the class of 1955 and enjoyed attending class reunions and riding with her classmates in Homecoming parades.

                 After graduation she moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and worked as a clerk with the F.W. Woolworth company.  She worked in Littleton, Co as a car hop, and various other jobs.  On Oct. 12, 1956, Marie started working part time as a telephone operator in Burlington, Colorado and became a full-time operator Jan. 6, 1957.

On September 1, 1957, Marie went with her coworker Darlene Warren to take a baby gift to one of Darlene’s friends, Lela Davisson. Lela’s brother Verlin Smith was home visiting family on a thirty-day leave. WELL……… 29 days later.

The alter in the Church of God in Stratton, Colorado was decorated with beautiful baskets of dahlias and yellow snap dragons, the bride wore a lovely white ballerina length gown, and the groom was attired in his Navy uniform. On October 3, 1957, Verlin and Marie were wed.  After which they returned to Florida, Whiting Field Navy Base, until Verlin's discharge in October 1959 and the couple returned to Burlington, Co.

On August 5, 1960, their first son Kevin Earl was born in Burlington, Co.  Two years later on March 1, 1962, another son Richard Lee was born. And the third son Terry Wayne was born on August 22, 1964.

The couple lived in various places on the eastern plains of Colorado owning and living in the same home on 13^th street in Burlington at three different times in their marriage.  Marie had her hands full raising three very active little boys and loved every moment of it.

Marie and Verlin raised their family attending the Burlington Christian Church. Accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior on March 20, 1976, Marie was baptized by her cousin and Minister Dean Borden.  Marie’s love for God got her through many trials in her life.

 Marie had many hobbies, which consist of crocheting, embroidering, reading, artwork, baking and collecting frogs, So MANY frogs!

She spent many hours of research and typing, doing the genealogy of her family, tracing members back to Plymouth, Massachusetts in the 1600s. One of her greatest joys was traveling with Verlin and the boys in their motorhome and being able to attend family reunions.

In later years she became very involved with her good friend Helen Newbury getting the Dialysis Center started in Burlington.

Marie always had time and lots of love for her family and friends.  She took great joy in her grandson Anthony.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Verlin Smith, sister Evelyn Matthews, brother Donald Wood. Her two sons Kevin Earl Smith, Terry Wayne Smith, and one granddaughter Tamra Jolienne Smith.

Marie is survived by her son Richard Smith and his wife Lois of Burlington, Daughter-in-law Julia Hubbell, and husband Terry of Vona, Grandson Anthony Smith and wife Nicole of Ogallala Nebraska.  Jarod Baylie, Sadie Baylie and Zeb and Emily Baylie, LeRoy Jacobs and wife Melissa, and Dona Jacobs.  Great grandson Alex Pinon and Dillion and Allen Schmidt. Great granddaughters Zoey Baylie, Chasity Jacobs, Jammie, and Serenity Chapman.

She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends.

Memorial Contributions

Love Funeral Home Burlington

377 15th Street

Burlington, Colorado 80807