Helen Smith

Helen Carroll (Mullane) Smith, 71, of Independence, died Sunday, July 18 at home. A memorial Mass will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Independence. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Cremation. A devoted mother and grandmother, Helen was a lifelong area resident. She was born Oct. 1, 1938, in Kansas City to Jerry and Virginia Mullane. She married Terry W. Smith in 1961, and they lived most of their married life in Independence. She worked more than 25 years at Government Employees Hospitalization Association, retiring in 2006. She loved to travel and dance and spend time with her grandchildren. Survivors include her daughter, Michelle Smith and David McQueen of Lee’s Summit and daughter, Kathleen Smith and Judd Crosby of Independence; a daughter-in-law, Jan Smith of Independence; a brother, Jerry and Annette Mullane of Lee’s Summit; sisters Katie Mullin of Lawson, Mo., Pattie Mullane-Vogel and Todd Vogel of Silverton, Ore., and Peggy and Ray Hatfield of Raytown; and grandchildren Kory Schuerman, Kirby Hampton, Zachary Smith and Katie McQueen; and great- grandchildren Jacob and Riley Hampton. She is preceded in death by her husband Terry W. Smith and son, Terry P. Smith. Helen was known for putting family first and she will be greatly missed.