Nora Lee Smith's Obituary
Nora Lee Eddy was born Aug. 17, 1933 in the family home near Havensville, Kansas, to Galen Coates Eddy and Edith Carnahan Eddy. She died Dec. 31, 2015 in her home in Tucson, Arizona, under the care of hospice and her family. She attended elementary and high schools in Havensville. After taking a year off from college to teach school in Westmoreland, Kansas , she graduated Kansas State University in 1956 with a teaching degree. She met Jack W. Smith, at K. S.U. They married in 1957.
Nora taught Kindergarten in Topeka, Kansas until she was advised to move to the desert for health reasons. They lived briefly in Colorado while Jack trained to work for the federal government. He was then assigned to the Tucson, Arizona area where they lived and Jack worked until his death in early 1982.
Nora attended University of Arizona and earned a Master’s Degree in Education. She taught in the Tucson School District until her retirement. Her older son, Bradley Jay Smith died in 1993.
In addition to her family and teaching, Nora loved her dogs. Her hobbies included Jewelry and quilt making, needlepoint and playing cards. She liked baseball and became a volunteer usher for the Arizona Diamondbacks for several seasons. Recently she published a children's book dedicated to her great-grandchildren.
She is survived by two daughters and one son; Valerie Jo (Stan) Kulp, Columbia, Missouri, Karen Traci (Gilbert) Najar, Tucson, Arizona and Samuel Smith, Tucson, Arizona. Also surviving are six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two sisters, Gail Lynn (Dan) Stern, Manhattan Beach, California and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Stewart, Marshalltown, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by husband Jack Smith, son B.J. Smith, parents Galen and Edith Eddy and brother Steven Kent Eddy.
A memorial service will be held later in Havensville, Kansas.
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