Edith Clarice (Rumfelt) Smith was born October 12, 1895 at Cook Station, Missouri, a daughter of the late James Henry and Sarah Jane Benton (Smith) Rumfelt and passed away August 21, 1974 in St. Charles, Missouri at the age of 78 years 10 months and 9 days. She was named Edith after Edith Beasley Grubb and Clarice after Clarisa Beasley who were beloved family members.

Her father passed away when she was three months old. She and her two sisters, Ruth and Grace were reared by their devoted Christian mother. She instilled a good Christian foundation which Edith followed during her life time. She and her sisters had a devoted mother looking after their welfare, caring for them, sewing for them and telling them the things they should know, cooking good food for them and seeing they were kept warm in winter with good warm clothes. She provided well for all her daughters.

Edith went to Carr School which was a one room school about 1- 1/2 miles from home which she walked twice per day. School started very early in July or August and when the weather was bad they did not go. At that time school was in session for only six months.

On October 18, 1914 Edith was united in marriage to Henry James Smith at her home on Benton Creek and to this union eleven children were born.

When Edith's mother died on April 24, 1915 she left the 280 acres of land on Benton Creek to her three daughters. At this time Edith and Henry were expecting their first child (Leona Margaret) who was born on July 23, 1915. Henry, Edith and the new baby along with her sister, Grace Rumfelt, were all living in the family home. Edith and Grace decided it would be best to buy their sister's, (Ruth Edgar) part. Edith and Henry took 120 acres on the other side of the creek. Edith and Henry built a new home there but lived with Grace and her new husband (Morris Smith) in the old home until the last part of November after Thanksgiving. They had Thanksgiving dinner at the old home all the family together.

Edith and Henry had two more children (Elmo and Denver) while living at Benton Creek. After that they moved to several places around Cherryville, Keysville and in St. Louis, Missouri. Edith's last two pregnancies she delivered fraternal twins (Bill and Bobby / Catherine and Caroline).

During World War II Edith and Henry had six of their sons in the service of their country. They were known as a "Six Star Family". All of them enlisted and returned home safely.

Edith died in St. Joseph's Hospital in Wentzville in St. Charles County, Mo at 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 1974. Cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest.

At the time of Edith's death those left to morn her departure were her beloved children, three daughters Leona Glover of Albany, Indiana, Caroline Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Catherine Collins of Mooresville, Indiana, seven sons, Elmo, Denver, LeRoy and Jack all of St. Louis, Missouri, Lester of Salinas, California, John of Covington, Louisiana, and Francis (Bill) of Huntsville, Alabama, 32 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Edgar of St. Francis, Missouri and Mrs. Grace Smith of St. Louis, Missouri, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. One son preceded her in death.

Mrs. Smith was a Christian mother, relative and friend who will be sadly missed by her loved ones.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 24, 1974, at the Halbert Chapel with Bro. Elmer Garrison officiating. Interment Carr Cemetery.

On September 26, 1999 her youngest son Bill Smith remembered his mother:
Mom was a person who could take a chicken and feed a family of many children with it. She was a very loving type of person and very fond of children, I some times think she lived for her children.