Mary Ann Smith (83), our mother, our family matriarch, went to be with the Lord on July 4 2024 after battling cancer handling it like a world class champion. She was surrounded by her loved ones and now is at peace and in Heaven.
She loved being with family dearly and carried on the tradition having family Sunday dinners. You never left her home with an empty stomach, and she always made sure everyone was taken care of. There was one time she made over 100 tacos for all the neighborhood kids at our home. She had the biggest heart, most loving and caring mother of all.
We will miss our time with her watching the Chiefs games, she always loved her Mahomie!; our competition on choosing which home to select on HGTV; but overall – just HER! She had so much love for each one of us in her own way spoiling us all! She loved Harley and Shooter just like each one of us even to the point of making them their own dinner on Sundays!
Mary was born on March 21, 1941, to Toy and Maxine Cribbs in Yuba City, California. Then the family moved to Carthage in March 1953 then to Joplin in January 1957. She worked for her parents at American Laundry until 1976 when the family business sold. She then worked at Red Lobster until she retired.
Mary is survived by her children Randy, Kim (Michael), Michele, Tommy (Erika), grandchildren Billy (Laura); Stacey, Tracey, Jeffery, Mitchell, Chandler, Alexis, Wynter, Chyloe (Elton), and Hailey; great-grandchildren Dylan, Ryan, Lexi, Olivia, Nevaeh, Zayden, Lilly and Emily; a sister Barbara (Tom) a niece, Angie (Chris) and great-nephew Ethan.
She will be missed by all her family and lifelong friends!
Our Family would like to make a special “Thank You” to all Mercy’s and Gentiva’s caregivers that were involved in her care with so much love and compassion. She so much appreciated and had built great friendships with many of her caregivers!
In honor of her final wishes, Mary was cremated and there will be a Celebration of Life announced later. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Joplin Humane Society or The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (https://bcfo.org/give) All arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park of Joplin, MO.