Dr. Marsha Kaylin Osgathorp Smith

Dr. Marsha Kaylin Osgathorp Smith

Dr. Marsha Kaylin Osgathorp Smith, age 64 of Milton, passed away on January 4th, 2014 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital.

Visitation will be held at Milton Church of Christ on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 from 4 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 10 a.m., at the Milton Church of Christ. Visitation will also be held at Union Hill Church of Christ in Union Hill, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 from 4 until 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at Union Hill Church of Christ on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 11 a.m., with Brother Teb Batey officiating. Interment will follow in Union Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Disman, Chris Hix, Eugene Hix, Bob Cowan, Mark Carlisle, and Shane Smith.

Dr. Smith was born January 11, 1949 in Clay County, Tennessee to the late Johnnie Dillard Osgathorp and Myrtle Newman Osgathorp.

She is survived by husband, Jimmy Dale Smith of Milton, TN; daughters, Gretta Smith of Crossville, TN and Cora Beth Smith of Murfreesboro, TN. Other surviving relatives include sister, Coretta Osgathorp Denton (Tommy) of Moss, TN; nieces, Scarlett Halsell of Moss, TN, Latisha Denton of Moss, TN; nephew, John Denton (Cherry Ann) of Red Boiling Springs, TN; great niece, Kaylin Oldham of Moss, TN; aunts, Pamela King of Moss, TN, Ruby Disman of Bowling Green, KY and several cousins.

Dr. Smith was a retired professor in the College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her greatest accomplishment at MTSU was being instrumental in developing the entrepreneurship program which saw tremendous growth in students majoring in entrepreneurship after 2000. During her 30+ years at MTSU, she served on many departmental and university committees. Dr. Smith was heavily involved in curriculum development for high school business, entrepreneurship guides, business education, and marketing education for the state of TN. For many years, she served as the chair of curriculum committee for the Jennings A. Jones College of Business. She made numerous presentations and publications during her tenure while at MTSU. For her dedication and commitment to Middle Tennessee State University, she was awarded the "Faculty Emeritus" award upon retirement.

Anyone who knew Dr. Smith knew her as a loving and caring person. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. More than anything, she valued her family, especially her children. Raising her daughters as Christian women was top priority to her, as well as her faith as a Christian. She was generously active as a member at Milton Church of Christ where she set up a children's program named "Building a Spiritual Heritage" aimed at helping children build a stronger spiritual foundation as a Christian. She also was active with Sunday school programs and vacation Bible school at Milton Church of Christ.

The family of Dr. Smith would like to thank Dr. John Barton of Tennessee Oncology for his loving care over the past fourteen years. The family would also like to thank the Intensive Care Unit and Oncology Floor nurses at St. Thomas Hospital Rutherford for their loving and caring concern for and her family during her stay.

Woodfin Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements, (615) 893-5151. An online guestbook is available for Dr. Smith at www.woodfinchapel.com