Connie was born to Allen and Imogene (Bahney) Smith on November 4, 1941. She grew up west of North Manchester on the family farm and was a lifelong resident of Wabash County. She had two sisters, Joyce Lauer and Janet Dawson and several cousins.
Connie attended and graduated from Laketon High School and at college she met her future husband, Glenn. They were married at the Niconza Baptist Church, the little white church she had grown up at just a mile down the County Line road.
They had three sons, Kraig Allen, Mark Andrew, and Kirk Anthony. With probably many plans for this young family, Connie’s life was drastically changed when Glenn died due to surgical complications. This left her to raise her sons alone, but she wasn’t alone. She had her parents and Glenn’s parents, Bill and Mary Ellen, who stepped in and helped her raise her sons. Aunts and uncles were actively involved too.
She watched her sons participate in many theatrical, choral, and sporting events while in high school and was there for every one of them. Connie worked in the administrative offices of United States Gypsum in Wabash until her retirement. After which she commuted to Indianapolis, where she worked for American Family Insurance, here she was able to spend time with Kirk and Rebecca and their daughters.
She completed her Master Gardener Designation through Purdue and volunteered on numerous gardening projects in several communities. Her volunteer activities included the Honeywell Center and Ford Theater in Wabash.
Connie’s daughters-in-law, Tracy, Marianne, and Rebecca have given her seven granddaughters and one grandson; Erika (White), Laura (Grosvenor), Reid, Hannah (Kazarovich), Ryan, Evan, Sarah, Ellie (Cape). They in turn have given her seven great-grandchildren.
If you have grace, you have peace. Connie was thankful for God giving her grace to live through the challenging life. She has given back to the people of her community to thank them for the help they had given to her over the years. She appreciated the efforts of Dr. Michael Silvers to start the North Manchester Chapter of Shepherd’s Center. Many seniors have benefited from these programs.
She was very proud of her sons and their families, to which she devoted her life. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.
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