Verna Jewel (Prager) Smith, 92, passed away on June 24, 2020, in her home in Las Vegas, surrounded by her devoted children. She was born July 31, 1927, in Morgantown, to John J. and Mary (Santee) Prager.
Verna graduated from the business program at Morgantown High School in 1944 and began her secretarial career at a local furniture store. In 1946, Verna married the love of her life, Norman D. Smith, of St. Marys (Pleasants County), after meeting at their congregation of the Church of Christ and Norman’s return from his WWII Navy duty. They and their three children resided in Morgantown until 1961. Norman’s jobs moved them to various places in the Carolinas, including Fayetteville, N.C., where Verna became a valued executive secretary at the VA. They settled in Mauldin, S.C. where Norman worked for Michelin until 1991, and finally moved to Las Vegas, in 2000 to be closer to their children in their retirement.
Verna and Norman were happily married for 60 years, and shared a love of dogs (many), music (especially hymns and L. Welk), news (especially of the Democratic Party), Jeopardy and blazing hot coffee. They enjoyed traveling both abroad and throughout North America.
Verna never met a stranger and maintained close relationships with countless friends. Even at the end of her life, she stayed in touch with people all over America and she never forgot a birthday. In return, on holidays or her birthday, she would proudly display dozens of cards from the many people who loved her. Verna loved flowers, especially roses, and grew an impressive collection of Christmas cactuses, whose cuttings grow in every family member’s house to this day. She could bake the best apple or cherry pie and taught the tradition of cooking the family buckwheat cakes recipe to pass to the next generation.
Above all else, she was the most devoted mother and champion for her children’s successes and comfort in adversity. She was unparalleled in her support and affection as a grandmother, and her grandchildren all adored her similarly. One of her three grandsons-in-law aptly stated, “she was full of love, in experience, in joy and in mind.” She will be missed by many.
Verna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother, John R. Prager; and son, Robert A. Smith.
She is survived by a son, Melvin E. Smith (Merry Richardson), of Las Vegas; a daughter, Francine Smith, of Ventura, Calif.; grandchildren, Robert A. Smith Jr., of Austin, Texas, Helen V. Smith, Esq. (Adam Ellwanger, Ph.D.), of Houston, Elizabeth Verna Smith, M.D. (J. Banks Smither), of Charleston, S.C., and Sierra S. Lewis (Jordan), of Newbury Park, Calif.; and three great-grandchildren (and another on the way).
Verna’s family will honor her life at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Morgantown at a future date. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to send donations to a charity of their choice.
