Connie Gene Smith

Connie Gene Smith aged 77 passed from this life Tuesday August 26, 2025 at her home in Jennings, Oklahoma after a short illness. Connie was born November 29, 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Bennie and Vuralen (Davis) Reel. Connie attended Tulsa Public Schools and graduated From McLain High School. In October of 1966 Connie married Don Simpson. This union produced two daughters, Gena Denice and Dana Louise Simpson and ended in divorce in 1973. In June of 1974 Connie married Frank Smith. This union produced a daughter, Belva Kay Ann Smith and ended in divorce in 1979. In April 1981 Connie married Billy Smith who remained her husband until her passing.

Connie had a long and successful career starting with Sears where she started as a waitress in their café and rose to manager. She then went to work for TG&Y in Enid and later in Tulsa managing their café. When TG&Y closed their Café operations Connie then started her next chapter at the New Mannford News starting in ad sales then becoming a feature writer. When a competing newspaper, the Mannford Eagle started up Connie joined them working as a feature writer and ad salesperson. After a management shakeup at her original newspaper she was made an offer she couldn't refuse and became editor and chief feature writer. Connie remained there until the office's closure in 1983. In one of her rare misfires Connie opened a small gift/resale shop in Mannford and named it Connie's Gifts Etc. She had a lot of fun with the shop but couldn't generate enough sales to either hire sales help or hire a buyer to get more merchandise. She really enjoyed the 6 months the store was open but knew it was time to move on. In 1985 Connie got the job she could finally retire from when her husband's business Mannford Ready Mix opened a second location in Pawhuska. Connie was office manager and dispatcher and performed brilliantly during a hectic time when she had to coordinate operations with 3 batch plants, 6 trucks, and dozens of subcontractors. Retirement finally came in 1989 when the company was sold but the next chapter turned out to be one of her most productive and satisfying. Connie had always had a talent of working with animals, training dogs and horses as a youth. In 1986 she started her dream with a single horse, "just wanted a riding horse". In 1987 it became "let's breed this mare and see what we get". In 1989 it became "we have this money from selling the business let's buy a farm". In 1993 Connie's dream came true with the purchase of 150 acres of bare land in Hallett. After months of hard work a double-wide trailer and 4 stall barn was ready for her herd of now 4 brood mares. After several successful crops of foals in 2002 the decision was made to wind down the horse operation due to market conditions. There was a new crop of babies to tend to. In 1989 Connie was blessed with her first grandchild and by 2002 there was 6 to tend to and spoil. In 2005 Connie was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and given a 10% chance of surviving the surgery. She faced the situation with the utmost faith and told her doctor he was going to witness a miracle. He was amazed that the tumor he thought was entangled in her carotid artery fell out in his hands. It was a long and extensive surgery with a long painful recovery but Connie never gave up her faith in God's healing power. Connie's niece Tammy gifted her an English bulldog puppy as part of her recovery process and started Connie on her next adventure. There was a strong market for puppies so her next quest was to breed for top quality pups. Connie carried on until the physical strain of caring for puppies became too much and a power failure in the kennel resulted in the death of her brood females.

In 2006 big changes occured with the sale of the Hallett farm and the start of building her dream house. After looking at hundreds of designs Connie and Billy finally settled on a basic design. After ordering the prints and making dozens of changes they looked at the print, wadded it up and threw it in the trash. Billy sat down with pen, paper and ruler and drew out an outline. Connie looked the sketch over, made a few changes, and said "do it" and began the frantic race to get it built. In 2018 what could have been a soul-crushing event happened with the total loss of Connie's home to fire. After a year of grief and recovery the decision was made to rebuild. It was the same basic design but with a few "wish we did that the first time" improvements. Connie's last years have been filled with the joy of family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, good friends and good times. Connie's faith in God allowed her to withstand the storms of loss of friends and family and the ravages of time. Connie truly left this world a better place than she found it.

Connie is survived by her husband Billy of the home, daughters Gena Floyd (Devin), Belva McDaniel (Justin) 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, honorary children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Tim and Danny Reel and daughter Dana (Simpson) Derruisseaux.

Viewing will be held Friday, August 29, 2025 from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in the home.

Services will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. also in the home with private graveside service after.

There will be a potluck dinner and celebration of life in the home after services.

In lieu of flowers, perennial plants or donations to Connie's favorite charities, Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital would be appreciated.

Chapman- Black Funeral home is conducting the service.