Chlorita M. Smith

Our wonderful mother, Chlorita M. Smith, died on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at the Holiday Resort in Emporia, Kansas. She was 88.

Chlorita was born on February 26, 1932 in Emporia, the daughter of M.O. “Pat” and Beulah M. Bowers Burnell. She married Lee Hall on September 3, 1950 at the First Baptist Church in Emporia. He died on August 27, 1972 in Emporia. Chlorita later married Paul W. Smith (who had 3 children from a previous marriage) on August 19, 1977 at the St. Marks Lutheran Church in Emporia. He died on February 2, 2001 in Emporia.

Surviving family members include: sons, Tony Hall of Emporia and Brian Hall of Garnett, Kansas; and daughter Elizabeth Keisler of Emporia; brother, O.C. “Buck” Burnell of Chandler, Arizona, and sister Carol (Carl) Renfro of Emporia.

Chlorita leaves the following ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren:

The children of Liz and Ted Keisler: Jakob Keisler, Robert Keisler (married to Lexie), Christian Keisler, and Brian Keisler, The children of Brian and Marcia Hall: Clint Hall, Jessica (Hall) Brake (married to Chris Brake), and Andrea Hall.

The children of Tony and Deon Hall: Tyler Hall (married to Shannon), Donisha (Hall) (married to Isaac Krumme) and DeNaye (Hall) (married to Oliver Wiggins}.

The children of Jakob Keisler: Rylee and Kyla. The child of Robert Keisler: Reece. The child of Christian Keisler: Sonny. The children of Jessica Brake: Chloe (her name is in honor of great grandma Chlorita, who was often called Chloe) Drizzton, and Sueanna Dawn. The children of Tyler Hall: Jayden and Piper. The children of Donisha: Isaiah, Elijah, Jonah, and Micha. The children of DeNaye: Ella and Eastyn.

Chlorita is preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and an infant son Robert Leroy Hall. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Laverne Burnell (who was married to Lois who has two children) and Charles Clifton Burnell, as well as two sisters, Peggy Jo (Burnell) Bailey (who had a daughter and son) and June (Burnell) Harger (who had two sons).

Our mom was a great cook (making fantastic Red Lightning cakes), a good provider, was able to stay strong through some tough circumstances, could be very funny, and was a hard worker.

Chlorita and her husband Lee purchased and were owners of a furniture store in Madison, Kansas, The Hair Brush Styling Salon beauty shop on Commercial Street, the Dari Delight on Sixth Avenue in Emporia, and then Schottler’s Electric in Emporia for many years. She also had jobs at the American Legion, and Winter Furniture in Emporia, to name a few. Chlorita and Paul were at one time the owners/operators of Memorial Lawn and Maplewood Cemetery.

Chlorita was a believer in Jesus and was baptized at Flint Hills Christian Church in Emporia.

Mom loved her dogs, and if you would like, you could send memorial contributions to the Emporia Kansas Animal Shelter or the Buffy Animal Welfare Group in care of the funeral home.

Cremation is planned with a private service at a later date.