Mercedes D. Smith

Mercedes D Smith, 98, of Columbia, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2011. Mercedes Duncan Smith was born October 24, 1912, in Andrew County, the daughter of John C. and Mollie Spicer Duncan. She married Jack Kermit Smith, September 2, 1951, and he preceded her in death in 1979. She graduated from Filmore Consolidated High School in 1930 and from Missouri Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1933. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree with a certificate in Public Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1943. She was in Public Health Nursing in Indiana, Kansas City, and Supervisor of Public Health Nursing in Jackson County. She was an instructor in Public Health Nursing at the Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri Columbia from 1952-1960. She retired from nursing in 1960 to be a wife, mother and grandmother. Her survivors include two daughters, Doris Wyrsch and Jean Benson; two granddaughters, Sally (husband Robert) Malan and Jayne (husband Greg) Kempf, both of Marshall; several other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a brother, John Lowell Duncan on March 16, 2005. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2011, at Epple Chapel, Lenoir Woods. Memorial contributions may be made to: Columbia Area Older Adult Ministry, 101 N. Tenth St., Columbia, MO 65201. Online condolences may be left at nilsonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under direction of Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 St. Charles Rd., Columbia MO 65202. (573-474-8443)