Norine Smith Loftis, 95

Funeral services for Norine Smith Loftis, 95, of Waynesville, were held Aug. 25, 2020, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville with Halbert Smith officiating. 

Mrs. Loftis died Aug. 19 at her home in Waynesville.

She was born Feb. 22, 1925, in Ozark County the daughter of Sigel Austin Smith and Carrie Evaline Jane Newton Smith; she was the oldest of their 14 children. On Feb. 4, 1947, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, she married James Archie Loftis. They were married nearly 65 years before his death on Jan. 12, 2012. 

After retiring from Montgomery Ward in Kansas City, she moved back home to the Gainesville area, where she enjoyed fishing with her husband and playing Canasta and Pitch with family and friends, especially when she could cheat without getting caught. While living in the Kansas City area she became a big fan of the Kansas City Royals; after moving home to southern Missouri, she found out she was in Cardinal Country and eventually became a big Cardinals fan. 

In 2012 she moved to the Waynesville area, where she met a new group of friends and participated in many community events. She enjoyed going to Cardinals baseball games in Springfield. A rocking chair was provided for her at Just Because gift shop, where she could rest and greet customers on the days she was able to get out in the community. Bunco became her favorite game in gatherings where she felt like she was everyone’s mom or grandma; she loved blowing on the dice for good luck before the throw.

She is survived by five of her six children, Carl Loftis and wife Christine of Van Zant, Barbara Smith and husband David of Wichita, Kansas, Twyla Cordry of Waynesville, James Ronnie Loftis and wife Alskie of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Dennis Loftis and wife Barbara of Blue Springs; 16 grandchildren: Jack Selby, Amber Baughman, Shawn Loftis, John Smith, Kurt Smith, Dusty Smith, Darren Smith, Carrie Smith Sameck, Stephanie Loftis Van Olst, Stacy Loftis, James Austin Loftis, Alana Loftis, Soleil Loftis, Gary Loftis, Chad Jackley and Brandon Jackley; 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; sisters Bonnie Luna of Gainesville, Roselle Howard, Nancy Kelley, Roselle Howard and Sharon Berniece Ziegler; brothers Floyd Smith and wife Shirley, Franklin Smith and wife Dorothea, and Mike Smith and wife Juanita; sisters-in-law June Smith, Wanda Smith and Wanda Lee Smith; brothers-in-law John Tucker and James Howard; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Blanch Sukow and husband Fent, Joe Smith and wife Lola, Obie Smith, Vilas Smith, Floy Tucker and David Smith; and brothers-in-law Delbert Luna, Troy Kelley, James Howard and James Ziegler.

Burial was in the Smith Chapel Cemetery. 

Arrangements by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.