Rita M. Smith

Parnell-Rita M. Smith was born August 11, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The daughter of John and Mary (Ryan) Scanlon. She graduated from North English High School. Rita was united in marriage to Lewis E. Smith on November 14, 1970, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kinross. Rita has worked a number of jobs, besides being a homemaker and mom. She has been a member of the Sacred Heart Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church and most recently St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Rita died Friday, May 22, 2026, at her home at the age of 76 years.

She is survived by her husband Lewis; children: Ruby (Jeff) Morehead of Williamsburg, Tanya Smith of Parnell, Shawn (Kathleen) Smith of Rapid City, SD, Jennifer (Nate) Roberts of Waukee and Jeremy Smith of Parnell; four grandchildren: Kathryn & Caroline Morehead, Spencer Ford and Adalina Roberts and four siblings: Kathleen Webster of Ely, Maureen Carson of Solon, John (Vickie) Scanlon of Cedar Rapids and Jim Scanlon of South English. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Tammy, siblings Mary Kinyon, Cecelia, Patricia, Theresa and Edward.

Funeral Mass will be 1:00 pm on Friday, May 29, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s Little Creek Cemetery near Kinross. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00pm at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. A rosary will be recited at 3:30. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established to help with funeral expenses. Messages and tributes, along with donation to crowd funding may be directed to www.powellfuneralhomes.com.