Retha Runsick

YATES CENTER, Kan. - Retha Florence Taylor Runsick, the sixth of 12 children born to Steve and Minnie Louise Weaver Smith, entered the world June 3, 1934, at a small farmhouse in Swifton. She spent her childhood helping care for animals on the farm, picking cotton, attending school in the one-room schoolhouse called Possum Trot, and making memories with her many siblings.

On March 22, 2023, after a six-year battle with dementia, Retha's time for adventures in her earthly body was finished at the age of 88. Over the past 10 months, she was lovingly cared for by the staff at Yates Center Health and Rehabilitation. Her family is grateful for the kindness and compassion they bestowed upon her.

In 1950, Retha married the love of her life, Boyce Taylor. She spent the next several years being employed as a seamstress for Jonathan-Logan Dress Co. In 1954, Boyce joined the Army and they soon relocated to Chatelaillon, France, where they lived for two years.

When they returned to the United States, Retha attended cosmetology school to become a hairstylist. In 1958, Boyce and Retha had their only child, a daughter whom they named Sheere. They had decided in France on using that name if they ever had a girl, as a version of the French word chérie, meaning darling.

Retha worked outside of the home for much of her adult life, as she owned and operated Retha's Hair Care Center in Walnut Ridge for 35 years. She also enjoyed being a salesperson for Mary Kay Cosmetics and Sarah Coventry Jewelry.

She and Boyce shared over 40 years of marriage together until his passing in 1991. In 1994, Retha met and married Ira Alfred Runsick, known to all as Al. For the next seven years, the two of them made many memories, including several trips to California to visit his family.

They were active in Cornerstone Methodist Church and enjoyed square dancing and playing cards with their friends often, until 2001 when he departed this life.

In Retha's free time, she enjoyed many hobbies and social events, including painting, gardening, crocheting, scrapbooking, dancing and listening to live music. She welcomed any reason to spend time with her family and friends, often planning or attending family reunions, luncheons, dinner parties and dances.

She took pride in being a mother to her daughter and a Mema to her grandchildren. She was an active member of the Methodist Church for most of her life. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, and various Bible study groups, and loved attending events at her local senior center when she lived in Jonesboro.

Her most favorite way to spend her time, however, was traveling. She lived most of her life in Arkansas, aside from a short time in San Antonio and two years in France. In 2014, she moved to Kansas to be nearer to her grandchildren.

Even though Arkansas was always home, she made sure to plan an adventure whenever she could. She spent time in Italy, New York, Hawaii, the Bahamas and California. She made trips to Missouri, Ohio and Kansas to visit family members and friends. She took cruises, trips with her sisters, saw the Eiffel Tower, visited the Grand Canyon and swam in the oceans. She always kept her passport current just in case an opportunity presented itself.

In addition to her two husbands, Boyce Taylor and Ira Alfred Runsick, Retha was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Minnie Louise Weaver Smith, 10 siblings, Vernice Sullivan, Velma Potts, Lucille Winemiller, Marvin Smith, Earnest Smith, Helen Keeley, Wanda New, Gladys Smith, Loretta Smith and Linda Black, and her daughter, Sheere Jackson.

She is survived by her son-in-law, Denny Jackson, two grandchildren, Amanda Briggs (Brian) and Tabitha Jackson, six great-grandchildren, Jayce, Kaylee, Hayden, D'shaun, Kiearra and Kamiyah, one sister, Patricia Smith, and many nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place and no official services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels Program at 117 S. Main St., Ottawa, KS 66067.