03/12/2011
Kathryn Renee Smith was born on June 15, 1993, to Mike and Karen (Neff) Smith in Pella, Iowa.
She was currently a student at Knoxville High School. She worked for the Knoxville Recreation Center and at Pine Knolls Country Club as a lifeguard and instructor. She began swimming for the Knoxville Stingray Swim Team at the age of five and swam on the high school swim team for Indianola High School. She qualified for several state swimming meets and qualified for the regional meet in Minnesota.
Swimming was a large part of her life. She loved going by her swim name Smitty. She swam competitively as well as teaching all her nieces and nephews and many other children and adults to swim and dive. She was active in the band during her junior high years and played both the clarinet and saxophone.
She loved to sing and was a member of the concert choir her first three years of high school, and accomplished her dream of making the Chamber Choir her senior year. She loved the drama of the stage and loved to do the make-up and soundtrack for the musicals and other productions performed at junior and senior high.
Katie is survived by her father and stepmother Robert M. Smith and Sandy; mother and stepfather Karen L. (Neff) Ray and Robert; her brothers and sisters Justin (Fawn) Staley, Jeff J. Staley, Bobbi Jo (Jeremy) Jamieson, Josh Ray, Heather (Matt) Julich, Meghan (Jay) Pratt, John A. Haines, Christopher L. (Amber) Haines, Robert M. (Heidi) Whelan, David M. (Heather) Whelan, Timothy J. (Laura) Whelan; her grandpa Earl D. Neff. Her nieces and nephews Justin Louis Staley, Jr., Jazzilyn Kate Staley, Jolyssa Marilyn Staley, Aala Grace Jamieson, Aidan Matthew Julich, Ambrose Ramon Julich, Amari Grayson Julich, Avalyse Sophia Julich, Ashley, Jason, Keegan, Logan Haines, Valerie, Courtney, Brady, Gracie, Briley Whelan.
Katie is also survived by her aunts and uncles Dixie and Larry Moneysmith, Larry and Deb Neff, James and Michelle Neff, Donald Neff, Kathy and LeRoy Bates, Chris and Mark Huston, Dawn and Steve Blackford, Linda, and Mike Lewis; and many cousins and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Charles and Jackie (Warren) Crandall and Gladys Mae and Howard E. Smith; and her aunts Charlotte and Carrie.
Kathryn passed away at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at the age of 17 years, seven months, and 25 days.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, March 18th, at Celebrate Community Church in Knoxville, with Pastor Brent Hanna officiating.
Burial will follow services at the Concord Cemetery in rural Knoxville.
Visitation for Kathryn will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Thursday, March 17th, also at the Celebrate Community Church, with Kathryn’s family present.
In Lieu of Flowers, a memorial has been established for the Blank Hospital.
Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com.