Moorman Ola Smith

Moorman Ola Ferguson Smith, 99 of Grand Junction, died June 5, 2012 at Henderson Health and Rehabilitation Center in Henderson, just short of her 100th birthday which was being planned. Mrs. Smith was born of Hardeman County pioneer lineage on July 11, 1912 in Hickory Valley. She was the fourth of six children born to Robert Moorman and Carrie Iola Hunt Ferguson. She attended elementary school in Hickory Valley and commuted daily via the Illinois Central Railroad from Hickory Valley to Grand Junction to attend high school there. In 1929, she married James Jenkins Smith and the couple established a home, first in Memphis where Mr. Smith worked for the Memphis Express Company, and then south of Grand Junction where Mr. Smith built their first home and engaged in farming. Later the family moved to their home at Oak Ridge Farm, located five miles east of Grand Junction on Smith Road. James and Moorman Ola Smith were the parents of five daughters, three of whom were born on September 1.



Mrs. Smith was multi-talented in the arts. In high school she designed and painted designs on raincoats in a style popular in the 1920's for members of the community. Later, she designed and made quail feather hat bands for persons associated with the National Field Trials held in Grand Junction, made hooked rugs, and completed a number of oil paintings. Mrs. Smith designed and made all of her daughters' costumes for programs and their clothing, including the evening gown for a daughter to wear in the Miss Memphis contest. In music, she played the piano and served faithfully for over thirty years as the pianist/organist for the Grand Junction United Methodist Church where she was a long-time member. In 1993, Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Germantown to be near daughters living there. Mr. Smith died in 1995.



Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two daughters, Betty Jane Smith Daniel of Saulsbury and Sarah Ann Smith of Purdue University and Grand Junction and two grandchildren. She is survived by three daughters, Dr. Gail Elizabeth Smith Mayfield (Bill) of Silerton; Charlotte Naola Smith Thoni (Jim) of Germantown; and Rev. Dr. Iva Carol Smith Goddard (William K.) of North Little Rock, AR; seven grandchildren, Jim Daniel, Sallie Sherrouse, Lisa Henson, Clay Goddard, Andrew Thoni, Donny Mayfield and Angie Keel; 16 great grandchildren; and many friends.