Obituary of Connie Smith

Connie Sue Smith 56, of Tiffin died at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Tuesday, July 31st, following a five year battle with cancer. An informal memorial service will be held 1:30 pm, Saturday, August 4, 2007 at Community of Christ Church in Mt Pleasant. Please wear no perfumes or colognes. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Connie’s name to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Connie was born in Des Moines on June 15, 1951, to Ralph and Louise Ogier. She grew up in Story and Boone counties in central Iowa and graduated from Nevada High School in 1970. After graduating from high school, she worked for five years at Coover Chevrolet in Nevada as a receptionist and bookkeeper. On May 31, 1975, Connie married Alfred (Fred) Smith in Farmington, Iowa. For the past 32 years, Connie and Fred have shared a rich, happy life together. Connie was a member of the Community of Christ church, in which she was ordained as a priest in 1987. Although they were never blessed with children of their own, Connie and Fred loved working with children in Sunday school classes, church camps, and the Coralville Young Peacemakers Club. Some of the happiest times of her life revolved around her puppet ministry. For many years, Connie and Fred wrote and performed puppet plays and taught puppetry classes for both children and adults. Throughout her life, Connie was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. In spite of severe health problems, she was always cheerful, optimistic, and enthusiastic. Connie’s strength and courage became especially evident during her treatment for cancer. While still undergoing radiation and chemotherapy in 2003, she enrolled as a student at Kirkwood Community College. In 2004, she graduated as a certified medical assistant. For the past two and a half years, Connie was employed as the office manager at a psychiatrist’s office in Coralville. Throughout that time, in spite of ongoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and numerous outpatient surgeries, she never missed a full day of work until shortly before her death. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Louise Ogier, and by her brother, Jim. She is survived by her husband, Fred. Connie was an amazing person and she will be greatly missed by her husband and her friends. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Connie’s family.