Obituary of Ivanell Smith

Ivanell (Willey) was born March 2, 1948 to Ernest Ivan Willey and Clara Lafaun Gift of Stratford, Texas, she resided there until the family which included three siblings moved to Hugo, Colorado in the fall of 1951 where they resided south of Hugo where the family worked a farm and ranch. Then they moved to Brush, Colorado in search of work, they resided in Brush until 1956 in which they then moved to Farmington, New Mexico until after a short period of time they moved to Kirtland, New Mexico.

Ivanell attended school in Kirtland until the 10^th grade when she met Robert Yates Smith the love of her life. They wed August 7, 1965. Ivanell and her new husband moved to Farmington, New Mexico to start a family of their own.  Robert took a job driving a delivery truck for Dr. Pepper.  Soon after that Ronald Ivan was born in September 1966.  Another three years later Vernard Thomas was born in October 1969. Robert continued driving for Dowell Energy Service, which transferred the family to Denver, Colorado where the family spent a short period of time, after transferring back to New Mexico, the family set up residence in Bloomfield, New Mexico and eventually the kids went to school and graduated there, therefore become the family home.

All of the while Ivanell had put all her ambitions aside to raise a family and grow and prosper with her children.  Many great and challenging times were ahead of her but she faced each and every one with dignity and respect making the best decision that she could at any given moment.

Ivanell had settled into the role of caregiver, like it or not she never shied away from giving herself in order to take care of or help someone else.

Ivanell tried working outside of the home for short periods at a time but her true calling was caregiving.  Ivanell first got involved caregiving Robert’s elderly grandparents, and then her own mother.  Eventually she was up for the role of caregiving her husband Robert in later years when he was deemed unable to work and provide due to various health conditions.  Recently after this turn of events took place, Robert and Ivanell relocated to Medicine Bow, Wyoming where they would reside until Robert’s passing.  While residing at Medicine Bow, she found time to work outside of the home as the museum curator for the Medicine Bow Museum where she worked for 11 solid years. As Robert’s condition progressed she tried harder to hold everything together eventually Robert passed, shortly thereafter she relocated to Limon, Colorado where she would live out the rest of her life.

She absolutely loved family gatherings and watch her grandkids become productive adults and playing with her great-grandchildren at those gatherings.

In closing Ivanell Smith was never in the stars or limelight but I will guarantee that if you needed caregiving she would be the first one there offering everything that she could to help. Know that she gave all and can now look down from the front row in heaven and realized that the fruits of her labor was all worth it, she gave it all to make things better for someone else.

Proceeded in death: her parents Ernest Ivan and Clara Lafaun (Gift) Willey, brother and sister in-law Henry and Barbara Alice Willey, brother in-law Glen Culver and her husband Robert Yates Smith.

Survived by: Sons: Ronald (Kris) Smith of Limon, Colorado, Vernard (Yana) Smith of Aztec, New Mexico. Grandchildren: Justin (Heather) Jaques of Paris, Arkansas, Curtis (Thuy) Jaques, Broomfield, Colorado, Tyler (Megan) Smith of Bennett, Colorado, Brooke Darnell Smith of Limon, Colorado, Rebecca (Adam) Havens, Rachel Smith, Kyle Smith, Brandon Bennett, Cody Diffey, Kelly (Paul) Belcher and Katie Widner of Aztec, New Mexico.  Sisters: Bonnie (Willey) Culver of Medicine Bow, Wyoming and Barbara Willey of Scottsdale, Arizona. Great-grandchildren: Westen Jaques, Chance Montange, Oakley Jaques, Chloe Jaques, Sophie and Cooper Smith, Lexi Diffey, Easton and Baylee Havens, Rylie and Waylon Smith and many nieces and nephews.

This is Ivanell Smith ~ we love you

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Neighbor.