Nathalee Smith, 90, passed away on March 15, 2024, at Hester Center at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson, Kansas. She was born October 23, 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was the oldest child of Harmon Bryan Poff and Annice Perry Poff.
Nathalee attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for one year and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma where she graduated in 1954.
On August 15, 1954, she married Dennis O. Smith in Fort Worth, Texas. She and Dennis moved to Lawton, Oklahoma and later to Dachau, Germany where Dennis was stationed with the United States Army. Upon their return to the United States, Dennis enrolled at the University of Kansas and graduated in 1959 with a law degree. They moved to Kansas City for two years before moving to Hutchinson to live, practice law and raise their family.
During their years in Hutchinson, Nathalee was active as a Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout leader. She also participated in the 4-H Horse Club program, Reno County Quarter Horse Association, Hutchinson Public Library, Hutchinson Symphony Guild, Blood Mobile and Hutchinson Hospital.
She was a member of the Psi chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority as well as Chapter BL of P.E.O. She attended Grace Episcopal Church where she was a Junior Choir director, Sunday school teacher and a member of the Altar Guild.
She loved to read all different types of books. She missed this terribly when she developed Macular Degeneration later in life. She traveled extensively. She took each of her four grandsons on a special adventure during the summer before their senior year in high school. She had many, many friends and family members. She enjoyed celebrating their lives by sending them birthday and anniversary cards. She had a great appreciation for music, attending musical performances whenever she could. At the end of her life, music was always playing in her room which seemed to comfort her.
Nathalee was preceded in death by her husband in 2002, both of her parents, her sisters Loretta and Nina, and her son Gregory.
Survivors are: daughters Kimberly (Peter) Fanelli and Kathleen (Eric) Andres; sons Geoffrey and Scott (Katie); grandchildren Friedrick Schweitzer, Hans Schweitzer, Kyle (Lena) Kendall, Travis Kendall; and step-grandchildren Joe Fanelli, Scott Andres, Robyn (Brian) Bell, and Chloe Mitchell.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday March 20, 2024, at Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Dr, Hutchinson with Reverend Dr. Ted Blakley officiating. Family will greet friends following the service. Friends may sign her book at Elliott Mortuary from 9 am – 5 pm. Burial will be a private family service at Memorial Park.
The service will be LiveStreamed on the Grace Episcopal FaceBook page: https://m.facebook.com/gracechurchhutch
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Grace Episcopal Church, The Hutchinson Public Library or Reins of Hope, all in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.