Mary J. Smith

Mary J. Smith, age 92, of Batavia Twp., OH, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Rolling Hills Care Center in Clinton Twp., NJ.

She was born on December 20, 1932, in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Mac and Vinette (Davis) Yockey. She grew up in Ripley, OH, and has been a lifelong resident of Cincinnati, OH. 

Mary was the wife of the late Edward ‘Eddie” F. Smith. She and Eddie shared 51 years of marriage before his passing in 2005.

After receiving her degree as a registered nurse from Jewish Hospital, Mary worked for an ophthalmologist until her son was born. When her children were in high school,  she worked as a school nurse. Mary then went on to support  Cincinnati Bell as a staff nurse before working for AT&T as a disabilities nurse. 

Mary's life revolved around her children and her husband. When there was no troop for her young daughter, Mary became a Girl Scout leader, a vocation that lasted 7 years. In her spare time, she had a passion for genealogy and a deep love of gardening. She prided herself on her beautiful gardens that looked like a page out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Mary loved spending time with her beloved husband, Eddie. The two were inseparable, both at home in their gardens and while travelling all 50 states with their children and Eddie's mother. As empty nesters, they continued travels to the western states, Canada, and Germany. Her favorite place to visit was Sanibel Island in Florida, where she and Eddie owned a condo on the beach for family vacations. She loved playing Bridge and always joked about being better than her husband. Mary was a devoted wife to Eddie; when Eddie developed Alzheimer's, Mary took care of him for 6 years before his passing in 2005. When gifted with a surprise Sealyham Terrier after Eddie's death, Mary and her furry companion, Lucy, were inseparable for the next 14 years.

Mary is survived by her two children: David M. Smith and his wife, Jackie, of Prescott, AZ, and Diane J. Steiner and her husband, Ronald, of Frenchtown, NJ; her two grandchildren: Scott Roberts, and Jen Hinkel and her husband, Tony; five great-grandchildren: Stella Roberts, Carter Gillespie, Levi Hinkel, Marleigh Hinkel, and Jaxon Hinkel; one sister, Sondra ‘Nonnie’ Kleinhans and her husband, Dave, of Irvine, CA. She is also survived by her dear friend of 25 years, AJ Hensely. 

She will be buried next to Eddie at Graceland Cemetery in Milford, OH. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011.

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