10/30/2006
Vera Mae (Finarty) Smith was born on July 14, 1927, south of Knoxville in Marion County.
She was one of five children born to Jessie L. Wilson and William Thomas Finarty.
She spent her childhood on a farm in southern Marion County. After graduating from
Knoxville High School in 1944, Vera Mae worked as a dental assistant.
On March 9, 1947, Vera Mae Finarty married Clark Eugene “Doc” Harvey. To this union
two children were born. Doc and Vera Mae moved to the Harvey farm east of Knoxville
where they farmed for many years.
Vera Mae was a hard worker on the farm, scooping silage and doing other chores.
She was especially fond of working with the cattle. Vera Mae served as a girl’s 4-H
leader for many years and also helped Doc lead a boy’s 4-H club. After the children
were grown, Vera Mae went to work as a nursing assistant at the VA Medical Center;
retiring after 14 years.
Doc passed away on April 1, 2003. Vera Mae renewed her friendship with an old high school friend, Bob Smith.
On October 9, 2003, Vera Mae Finarty Harvey married Robert Duane Smith. Vera Mae
was an excellent cook, frequently making 12-14 pans of cloverleaf or cinnamon rolls
at one time from scratch. Freezing them to use whenever family or friends stopped.
Vera Mae always had a big garden and canned much of the extra produce.
The family especially remembers her strawberry jam, upside-down pickles, and frozen
green beans and corn. Vera Mae also liked to have fun. Playing card games such as
rummy, 12-point pitch, and pinochle were always favorites. She also spent many hours
working on jigsaw puzzles.
Vera Mae Harvey Smith was born on July 14, 1927 south of Knoxville in Marion County, Iowa.
She was one of five children born to Jessie L. Wilson and William Thomas Finarty. She spent her childhood on a farm in southern Marion County.
After graduating from Knoxville High School in 1944, Vera Mae worked as a dental assistant.
Vera Mae was an excellent cook, frequently making 12-14 pans of cloverleaf or cinnamon rolls at one time from scratch. Freezing them to use whenever family or friends stopped.
Vera Mae always had a big garden and canned much of the extra produce. The family especially remembers her strawberry jam, upside-down pickles, and frozen green beans and corn.
Vera Mae also liked to have fun. Playing card games such as rummy, 12-point pitch, and pinochle were always favorites. She also spent many hours working on jigsaw puzzles.
Vera Mae (Finarty) Harvey Smith passed away on Monday, October 30, 2006, at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella at the age of 79 years, 3 months, and 16 days.
She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, husband, and daughter, Arlys Ponce.
Those left to mourn her passing are her husband, Robert “Bob” Smith of Chariton; one son and his wife, Danny and Ann Harvey of Knoxville; one son-in-law, Robert Ponce of Norwalk; six grandchildren, Jay, Eric, and Cory Harvey and Bryan, Andrew, and Rebecca Ponce; three sisters, Florence Agan and her husband Keith and Alberta Mart of Knoxville and Pat Patty and her husband, Roy of Kellogg; three step-children, Jill Moore and her husband Bob of Springfield, MO, Gary Smith of Springfield, MO, John Smith of Ozark, MO; three step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life was held on Thursday, November 2, 2006, at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville with Pastor Greg Neer officiating. The interment was in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, Iowa.
Musical selections were “Go Rest High On That Mountain” and “Wind Beneath My Wings”.
The vocalist was Allison Hutell. Organist was Midge Brooks. Casket bearers were Eric Harvey, Jay Harvey, Terry Harvey, Andrew Ponce, Bryan Ponce, Alan Ver Steeg, and Merle Vickroy.
Memorials in memory of Mrs. Smith may be made to the Chariton Church of the Nazarene or Hospice Comfort House in Pella. Condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.williamsfhknoxville.com.