Ethel “Boots” Smith, 93, Emporia, died at the Holiday Resort Care Center in Emporia on Sunday, February 13, 2011.
Boots was born at Reading, Kansas on May 13, 1917, the daughter of Joseph and Frieda Michelfelder Smith.
She was preceded in death by: four brothers, John, William, James, and Harry Smith; and two sisters, Josephine “Josie” Smith, and Mary Love.
She is survived by nephews and nieces: Sue and Bill Rogers, Emporia; Bob Smith, Wichita; Dorothy Spears, Kansas City, Missouri; and Lorna Baxter, Columbia, Missouri.
Boots and her sister Josie were named The Gazette’s “Women of the Week” on October 10, 1970, because they “are probably the most colorful and remarkable sisters in this area. They operate a sizable farm northeast of Emporia by themselves. The women do all of their own work, which includes feeding 200 cattle, keeping a flock of 400 chickens, vegetable and flower gardening, raising wheat, and even baling hay.”
“… They are among the first to offer assistance when a neighbor needs help with crops or house. Both are accomplished horsewomen and often work stock with horses.”
The Smith sisters were also featured in an agriculture column in The Emporia Gazette.
She was a member of livestock associations and soil conservation groups, and was a recipient of the Kansas Bankers Association Conservation Award.
Cremation is planned, with no services scheduled.
A memorial has been established with the H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Fund. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ethel "Boots" Smith, please visit our flower store.
Boots was born at Reading, Kansas on May 13, 1917, the daughter of Joseph and Frieda Michelfelder Smith.
She was preceded in death by: four brothers, John, William, James, and Harry Smith; and two sisters, Josephine “Josie” Smith, and Mary Love.
She is survived by nephews and nieces: Sue and Bill Rogers, Emporia; Bob Smith, Wichita; Dorothy Spears, Kansas City, Missouri; and Lorna Baxter, Columbia, Missouri.
Boots and her sister Josie were named The Gazette’s “Women of the Week” on October 10, 1970, because they “are probably the most colorful and remarkable sisters in this area. They operate a sizable farm northeast of Emporia by themselves. The women do all of their own work, which includes feeding 200 cattle, keeping a flock of 400 chickens, vegetable and flower gardening, raising wheat, and even baling hay.”
“… They are among the first to offer assistance when a neighbor needs help with crops or house. Both are accomplished horsewomen and often work stock with horses.”
The Smith sisters were also featured in an agriculture column in The Emporia Gazette.
She was a member of livestock associations and soil conservation groups, and was a recipient of the Kansas Bankers Association Conservation Award.
Cremation is planned, with no services scheduled.
A memorial has been established with the H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Fund. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ethel "Boots" Smith, please visit our flower store.
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