Friday, October 13, 2017

Lydia Francis Carl /Dailey (Smatla)(36) Passes Away


Lydia Francis Carl /Dailey (Smatla) Born July 28th, 1916 in Maple Hill, KS, the oldest daughter of Czech immigrants Thomas & Marie Smatla, she grew up with 5 brothers & 2 sisters near Rossville, KS.

After graduating from Rossville HS in 1936, she worked in Topeka and put herself through Barnes Business College, earning what would now be an Associate Degree. "I wanted to make something of myself" she would often say. Ultimately meeting and marrying Donald Dailey in 1942 "He was a great dancer." She was with the War Price Administration during WW-II in San Francisco, having a baby boy in 1943. Fearing possible invasion on the coast, she moved back to Willard, KS with her parents; Don following after the war was over. She was with Capper Publications, Farmers Insurance and the US Dept. of Agriculture (she was certainly qualified for that!) for many years, ultimately transferring to the Treasury Dept, retiring from the IRS. Incredibly active in Senior groups, the JoCo Election Commission and the Overland Park Presbyterian Church, she always had her "hands in the dirt"... this great Mom who could make ANYTHING grow, always had a large garden, and made frequent visits to the "home place" farm to help her parents & brothers. Growing up in the Depression, she wasted nothing ("Don't you throw that tin foil away!"), and we always had plenty of canned vegetables & fruits from the gardens. Many holiday dinners were made by Mom's talented hands, and little talking could be heard over the sounds of happy eaters. She lost husband Don in 1987, remarrying James Carl in 1988, happily sharing their life until his passing in 2010. Having outlived 7 siblings, she then spent the remainder of her 101 years at Overland Park Place, but continued to feed birds who landed on her balcony ledge & grow starter plants on the windowsill.

Survivors include her son, Thomas C. Dailey of Sedalia, CO; nieces, Paula Kingman, Denise Horgan and Kristi Seigler of Kansas City, Rita Darlene Antoniowicz of Albany, GA, Marcia Reiter of Topeka, KS and Debra Likes of Leavenworth, KS; nephews, Larry Smatla of Oskaloosa, KS, Calvin Kingman of KCMO, Tom Smatla & Paul Smatla of Grand Junction, CO and many grandnieces & nephews and Tom's "adopted" daughter Shona & son Sean.

Come celebrate Mom's life and remember... stand on the plastic! 

Visitation will be 2pm - 4pm, Sunday, October 15th at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel. Her Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30am, Monday, October 16th at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park with burial following the service at the Czech Moravian Cemetery, Rossville, KS. Online condolences may be left at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment