Obituary

Obituary: Joan Marie (Hansen) Smith

KS_Newton -- A memorial service celebrating the life of Joan Marie (Hansen) Smith, 78, of Verdigris, Okla., was conducted Sept. 25 at First Baptist Church in Owasso, Okla. Joan, a former Newton resident, passed away at her home on Sept. 20, following the suffering of a severe stroke, her third, on June 14 this year. Joan and her husband, E. Thayne Smith, lived in Leesburg, Va., for two years, Claremore, Okla., for three years and on Fort Gibson Lake, near Wagoner, Okla., for 22 years, before moving to Lake Eufaula, southeast of Checotah, Okla., in 2002. They moved to the Vintage of Verdigris area in 2009. Joan was born to Elwood and Florence Nail on Nov. 9, 1933, in Oklahoma City and graduated from Newton High School in 1952. She was married to the late Harold Hansen on Memorial Day 1954, with the family residing in Newton, Independence, Yates Center, Wichita and Hays, until his passing in 1973. She married Thayne, a former Newton resident and reporter and sports editor of the Kansan, on June 19, 1976. In her extensive career, she served as an accountant in the Harvey County Clerk’s office in Newton, and in accounting and banking positions in Yates Center, Wichita and Hays, and as a computer instructor for a national securities firm, based in Kansas City, Mo. She and Thayne, a writer, photographer and public relations professional, owned and operated an embroidery business (Adventure Monograms) in Wagoner for several years, and they together represented various outdoor product firms, including Zebco, Lowrance Electronics, Bushnell and Pentax Sports Optics and Jayco Recreation Vehicles, at industry and writer functions throughout the USA, Canada, England, Scotland and Spain. She had many hobbies, including sewing, doing cross-stitch, an extensive elephant collection, and was a dedicated hunter and angler. Her greatest passion was her children, a host of grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Survivors include her husband of 36 years, and children and step-children and spouses, including Kellard Smith and Jennie of Eagle Rock, Mo.; Jeff Hansen and Leisa of Seymour, Mo.; Patti (Hansen) Braun and Allen of Claremore, Okla.; Scott Smith and Karen of Owasso, Okla.; Richard Hansen and Jane of Victoria; and Kim (Hansen) Giebler and John of Norman, Okla. The family suggests that any donations be forwarded to: The OSU Center for Health Sciences Program, 1111 W. 17th St., Tulsa, OK 74107, to which Joan willed her remains for medical research and education, or Hope Hospice, 8291 N. Owasso Expressway, Owasso, OK 74055.