Grayce Smith-Uhl

Grayce Elizabeth Smith-Uhl, 95, of Moville died Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center in Sioux City.
A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Lawton, Iowa, with the Rev. Bruce Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Westfork Township Cemetery, Climbing Hill, Iowa. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of McCulloch Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Moville.
Grayce was born on Jan. 8, 1920, to Carl and Olive Boyer, in Sloan, Iowa. She attended elementary school in Sioux City and high school in Climbing Hill.
She married W. Howard Smith on Aug. 4, 1937, and they farmed near Climbing Hill raising their four children there. Howard preceded her in death in 2000. Grayce married Bernard Uhl on Dec. 13, 2003. He preceded her in death in 2012.
Her family and faith were the mainstays of her life. Grayce was active at First Baptist Church in Climbing Hill while raising her family, teaching Sunday School, leading the choir, and singing. When the church bought an organ, she learned to play and continued playing for many years. She was active in PTA at school and the Farm Bureau. Grayce was also active in the Extension Service mentoring young mothers. When she and Howard retired from the farm and moved to Moville, they attended Bethel Lutheran Church in Lawton. Grayce enjoyed crafts, travel, and especially, time with family and friends. She and Howard spent many winters in Texas. Grayce's love of family continued all her life with a special interest in the development and activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Likewise, her life served as testimony to her strong faith and love of Christ.
Grayce is survived by her four children and their spouses, Karen Conley (Bob Tobia) of Kansas City, Mo., Howard (Kris) Smith of Fairfax, Va., Steve (Lois) Smith of Climbing Hill, and James (Diane) Smith of Ames, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jackie (Duane) Amundson of Ivanhoe, Minn., Hilary (Tom) Kleese of Verona, Wis., Josie (Josh) Uecker of Kansas City, Guy (Ellery) Smith of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Shane Smith (Jeena Dutta) of Raleigh, N.C., and Shannon (Jim) Pinnock of St. Robert, Mo.; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Garoutte; brother, Carl Boyer; and two half brothers, Donald and Richard Francis.
She was a super mom before it was popular and will be greatly missed by her family.