Carolyn Vanhook Smith

Carolyn Vanhook Smith lost her battle with cancer and passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at age 70 in her home with her loving family by her side. Carolyn was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lowell, Ark., since the age of 12. She loved teaching Sunday school and VBS. Carolyn loved her church family. She was born Dec. 30, 1943, in Lowell, Ark., to L.R. (Bus) Johns and Alice Burch Johns. In 1960, she married Don Vanhook. They raised two children, a son, Ron Vanhook and wife, Jena, of Westfork, Ark.; a daughter, Susan Brisco and husband, Russell, of Anderson, Mo. Don passed away in 1996. She is also survived by her husband, O.D. Smith of Lowell; granddaughters, Sara and Katy Brisco of Anderson, Mo., Cassidy Vanhook of West Fork, Ark., and Brittany Clemments of Prairie Grove, Ark. She is survived by one brother, Jimmie Johns and wife, Nina, of South Carolina. She is survived by six sisters-in-law, Veda Sigmon of Berryville, Ark., Shirley Sands of Cave Springs, Ark., Patsy Vanhook of Russellville, Ark., Deborah Vanhook of Bentonville, Ark., Gaylene Vanhook of Cave Springs, Ark., and Mary Ann Johns of Fort Smith, Ark. She is also survived by one brother-in-law, Bill Vanhook of Clifty, Ark. She was preceded in death by her first husband; her parents; a brother, Forest Johns; and a sister, Patsy Ranalli. Carolyn worked for Dr. Jim Wolfe, DDS, of Rogers. She was his dental assistant for several years. She said that those were some of the best years of her life working for such a great boss and having the opportunity to meet so many nice people. In 2007, Carolyn married O.D. Smith and they have had a comfortable life full of gardening and flowerbeds. They loved to sit in the yard to watch and feed the birds. The cardinal was her favorite. Carolyn loved to cook, especially cookies. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday for preparing food for her family. It was a fun time every year. A visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. this evening at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel in Rogers. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at First Baptist Church of Lowell. A burial will follow at Philips Cemetery, east of Lowell. Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers, Ark. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfuneral.com.