Loretta B. Smith, formerly of Charleston, MO, died May 13, 2018 in Okeechobee, FL.

She was born Oct. 22, 1927 at Medley, near the Dorena Community of Mississippi County, MO, to the late Fred and Lula Bevil. She married David Kiah Smith May 23, 1953 in Cairo, Ill. at the home of Mr. Smith's cousin. She taught school in Mississippi County Dorena and Hames Bayou Area for five years, and one year at Belmont.

She was employed at Illinois Bell Telephone for six months in 1953, and she and her husband moved to St. Louis, where they lived and worked for almost eight years. She was employed with the Tretolite Chemical Company in Webster Groves and moved to St. Ann, Miss., where she worked for the Vatterott Real Estate and Insurance Company. They moved to Sikeston in 1960 and purchased an insurance agency. In 1963, they moved to Charleston and worked with Charleston Abstract Company and Insurance, a family owned business. In 1974 she won her bid for the County Office of Circuit Clerk and Recorder, which she held for sixteen years. She retired and wrote Court Criminal Minutes for Mississippi County Times for nearly seven years.

Her hobbies were bow hunting, golf, gardening, crafts, and cooking.

She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Fred (Ruth) Dark, of Okeechobee; nephew, Fred Dean Dark; four great nieces; and one God Child.

Family and friends may assemble for graveside services at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 27, 2018, at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston.

Interment will follow under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com