Edra (Maynard) Smith

Edra Maynard Smith, 96, of Columbus Ohio, formerly of Clearfork WV left us on January 5th, 2021 at 3:23 a.m. at the hospice house at James Cancer Center of Columbus Ohio. 

Edra was born in Pilgrim Kentucky on November 17th, 1924 to the late Bert and Edna Harmon Maynard. Those who have proceeded her in death are as follows:  Siblings: Wendle, Lewis, Elza, Wade and Sadie Maynard DeLong and two sons, Ronald Wade Smith and a five-month-old son who never made it full term but still had a soul. Three brothers-in-law, Frank DeLong, Ralph Whittington, Jean Alvin Lamb, one sister-in-law, Betty Neely Maynard.  Several nephews and nieces, Dean DeLong, Clifford Whittington, Ricky DeLong, Ann Lamb Start Pritchard.

Those left to cherish her memory are Kay (David) Bower of Ravencliff WV.  Two sons, Randy (Debbi) Smith of Clearfork WV and Doug Smith, of Columbus Ohio, who she shared the last 10 years of her life with and Dr. Emilio Amigo, of Columbus Ohio, a friend she adopted as a son.

Two sisters who always looked to Mother for advice,  Lutia Lamb of Kopperston and friend Gary Mitchell of Oceana and Ruth Whittington and friend Ron Altizer, both of Oceana. Two special nieces who loved her in their own special ways, Ruth (Benny) Toler of Clearfork and Linda (Eddie) Cline of Moneta VA. and Greg DeLong of Columbia, Missouri, who grew up with us. A host of great nephews and nieces. One cousin, Barbara Ann Whitman of Portsmouth, who treated Mother like the Queen  she was and Corey Fletcher, a cousin she grew up with and forever stayed in touch. A special thanks to our cousin Jean Murphy Nichols who we got to reconnect with in Columbus Ohio.  I must mention a very special lady, Kathy Sanders of Memphis, who Mother loved as much as she did us.  Kathy treated Mother as her best friend for over forty-eight years and thought of her as her own Mother.

Edra’s greatest enjoyments in life were her two Grandkids, Shane (Jeanie)Bower and Brittany Smith and her three great grandkids, Jagger and Jett Smith and Regan Bower. Nothing did her heart better than to come home with a house full of family members waiting to see her.  Jett would plow his way through the crowd like a tornado, until he made it to Grandma.  Regardless how big he got, he still would jump into her lap and wouldn’t stop kissing.  That was worth the trip in, just to see the glee on her face. Two step grand kids, Terri and James Bower, three step great grand kids, Emily, Megan, Hank and one step great great grand child, Payton. Mother and Emily shared a special bond with Emily.

Edra attended the Clearfork Valley Church when she resided at her home in Clearfork WV.

Edra was followed on Facebook by hundreds. People loved to see how this Diva was dressing up to go out.  She loved her fashion and make-up.  Thanks to each of your comments, it kept her wanting to look her best.

Many patients and their families would often tell us how Mother was an inspiration to their family at the James Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio.  A special thanks to two women who worked at the James Mother loved dearly, Carmin and Shim.

Mother was the kindest person one would ever meet.  She never had anything but something good to say about someone she met. She lost most of her sight at the age of 39 and the rest in January 2020.

That didn’t stop her from being the best Mother God could give one.  Those who knew her, knew she was like a Mother Bear protecting her cubs and if anyone ever crossed her kids, they had to deal with her wrath.  She never retired from this role until the end of her life.

 We three kids of Mother’s did what we needed to do in order to make her life as comfortable as possible. It was a group effort and a group success.   I had the best part, looking after Mother while my brother took care of the yard work and home and my sister took care of her personal affairs.

One of her greatest enjoyments from life were traveling.  Mother loved traveling all over the USA and Mexico.  We would no sooner get back home from a vacation and she was ready to plan our next vacation. Her vacations with her sisters were always the best.  Mother once said if she had her life to live over, she would love to have been a Ranger in Yosemite Park. She loved the great outdoors.

We had some hilarious and some scary stories throughout time together on our vacations that need to be told in a book about Mother one day.

Even after 96 years of life, mother's life ended too soon due to the negligence of a six day stay at a nursing home. This is very important to mention because the same can and does happen daily to our loved ones.  Selfishly even 96 Life will never be the same without this amazing Mother but we will hold our heads high and remember the great times God gave us together.  Until we meet again Mother, fly high and enjoy your beautiful body with no pain and new eye sight....

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