SHARON JOSETTE "CHERIE" SMITH

Sharon J. "Cherie" Smith, 68, formerly of Richmond, MO passed into Eternity on Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the NorthCare Hospice House in North Kansas City, MO.

Sharon Josette Smith was born a Valentine's Day baby, on February 14, 1947 in Rensselaer, IN, the daughter of Norbert Julian and Helen Leola (Styck) Brown.   Cherie married Rev. Donald Richard Smith of Lawson, MO on July 4, 1992; she is survived by her husband.

Additional survivors include: her mother Helen Brown, Kearney, MO; two sons, Bret Aaron Cleveland, Kansas City, MO and Michael Wayne Cleveland, Zurich, Switzerland; three daughters, Michelle Josette Cleveland, Stephanie Renee' Forcier, both Kansas City, MO and Lindsay Erin Smith, Apex, NC; three sisters, Francie McDonald, Liberty, MO, Laura Lumsden (husband, Bob) Liberty, MO and Betty Santiago (husband, Pete), Kearney, MO; four grandchildren, Anastasia Marie Holland, Breanna Josette Holland, Isaac Richard Garcia and Paul Leoben Fournier.

Cherie was preceded in death by her father, Norbert Brown and her first husband, R. Wayne Cleveland.

Cherie was raised in Donovan, IL where she graduated from Donovan High School. Following high school, she attended Illinois State University, Chicago, IL where she graduated with a BS in Education certified for English, French and Speech.

In 1973, Cherie moved to Lawson, MO and began teaching English and Psychology at Lawson High School in 1977. In 1985 she was widowed. Raising two children on her own, she began attending the University of Missouri, Kansas City and received her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in August 1991. Cherie taught for Lawson High School for 25 years and retired in 2005.

July 4, 1992, Cherie married Donald R. Smith and joined him in his Ministry at Lawson and Richmond United Methodist Churches. In addition to her church service and prayer groups, she was a member Beta Sigma Phi, later her chapter became the "Circle of Friends", Federation of Missouri Teachers, the Friendship Circle of the Richmond, UMC, and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association.

Cherie was an avid reader, loved sewing, planting flowers, visiting wineries and traveling. Mostly she loved spending time with and entertaining all of her family and friends.

Beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and grandmother she was the Matriarch of the family.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Richmond United Methodist Church. Family will greet friends on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church prior to services. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left on our website at www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Richmond United Methodist Church Endowment Fund.