HORSMAN, Veneta "Lucile" (Smith) - b. March 26, 1931 - d. April 4, 2022

[patyrn]

Veneta "Lucile" Horsman was born in Elk County, Kansas on March 26, 1931, the daughter of Bernard and Lyda (Jontra) Smith.  She passed away in Independence, Missouri on April 4, 2022.

Lucile lived in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as a child where her father preached.  She graduated from Schubert High School in Schubert, Nebraska in 1949.  After teaching at a rural school in Nebraska for two years, she attended and graduated from Central Christian College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  While she was a student, she also worked as a telephone operator. Following graduation, she met and married Robert Thomas Horsman who attended the same church she did in Bartlesville.  They married on July 30, 1955 in Kingman, Kansas.  Robert was drafted into the United States Army right before they married.  After his two year military service, they settled in southeast Kansas. 

While raising her family, Lucile had several cooking jobs including being the Head Cook at Friendship Meals in Howard, Kansas and Food Service Director at Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas.  In 1984, Lucile and Robert moved to West Memphis, Arkansas where they owned and operated a moving and storage business for almost 20 years.  When they retired, they moved to Weir, Kansas and later Frontenac, Kansas. 

Lucile loved to collect and try new recipes and continued that habit during retirement.  She loved fishing, reading, and crossword puzzles.  She was known as a jokester and someone who could make everyone laugh.  She struck up conversations with people wherever she went and was sassy to the end.  Evem through her many moves, she developed longtime friendships.

Lucile wsas known to be an excellent seamstress who sewed for her boys and made most of her daughters' clothing including prom dresses and wedding gowns.  She often sewed for other families, also.  A special memory shared by her daughters was when she made clothes for a family in need.  They were so proud of their mom when they saw the family wearing those clothes.

Lucile embodied Acts 9:36b - "this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did".  In Oakley , Kansas, she helped the Joy Bus ministry and taught Sunday School.  She and Robert ministered to inner-city youth while living in West Memphis, Arkansas.  They volunteered at the Senior Center in Perryville, Arkansas.  Whenever someone was in need, Lucile would meet that need with a servant heart.

Lucile was a lifelong faithful member of the Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School unti the age of 80.  She had a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed singing hymns.  During retirement, she began reading through the Bible every year.  She often made encouraging phone calls to people who were struggling and would study the Bible with friends. 

Lucile is survived by her sister, DeLois Allen; her six children, Susan (Larry) Nossaman, Kay (Mike) Shelton, Mike (Rita) Horsman, Terry (Rhonda) Horsman, Lynda Fairleigh, and Bonnie Bennett; 13 grandchidlren; and 16 great-grandchidlren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Lyda Smith; her brother, Richard Smith; her husband, Robert Horsman; and a son-in-law, Mike Fairleigh. 

Cremation is planned with a Celebration of Life to honor Lucile to be held at a later date.  The family welcomes thoughts and memories that can be shared online at www.speakschapel.com.  Contributions in her memory can be made to Carpenter Place, 1601 North Meridian, Wichita, Kansas 67203.  Speaks Suburbabn Chapel of Independence, Missouri has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Speals Suburbabn Chapel website)
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Lucile and Robert Horsman lived in Howard, Kansas while their children were young and attending the Howard schools.  Lucile is also a cousin to Don Smith of Howard.