Stacey Lynn Smith
May 10, 1962 - July 04, 2024
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Stacey Lynn Smith
May 10, 1962 - July 04, 2024
Obituary
Stacey Lynn Nichols was born in Wichita, Kansas on May 10, 1962 to Barbara and Gary Nichols. Both of her parents are still living. She has three sisters. Kelli is the oldest, then Stacey, then Jennifer, and Jessica. Her sisters now live with their families in Wichita, Kansas and Kernersville, North Carolina.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
When Stacey was a baby her mother noticed that she wasn’t responding to stimuli the way her older sister Kelli had done at the same age. The doctors finally determined Barbara’s little girl had been born with hearing loss. They said she would never be able to speak and that she would need to learn to use sign language to communicate with the world around her. But Barbara was determined that her daughter would one day be able to talk and enrolled her in speech therapy. In the beginning, the sessions were difficult. Stacey was so little and could not understand what she perceived to be a silent world around her. In frustration, she would lie down on the floor and kick and scream. But through a lot of work Stacey learned how to understand what people were saying by reading lips. She learned the feeling of vowels and consonants on her vocal cords so she could articulate what she wanted to say to a world that could hear. By the end of her speech therapy–as long as she could see the lips of the people around her–she could communicate as though she wasn’t hearing impaired.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Stacey grew up in Wichita around Lydia and Seneca and attended South High through the first half of her junior year and Northwest High after the family moved across town to Wood Street. In high school, Stacey was an energetic and beautiful blonde. She joined the pom-pom squad in both schools and loved cross-country skiing in the winter. But most importantly, one summer at camp, Stacey heard the Gospel. It was at that camp that she decided to become a Christian. This would be the start of a long journey with her savior, Jesus.
During her freshman year of college at Friends University while walking to one of her classes Stacey suddenly collapsed on the sidewalk. She was rushed to the hospital and again the doctors examined this beautiful young lady. This time the cause was cancer, Hodgkin’s disease. She was 18 and it was 1980. The only option to stop the spread of the cancer and potentially save her life was a treatment called cobalt radiation. This is an intense form of radiation therapy that can have destructive effects on the healthy tissues in the body. Her family had no idea what the potential long-term side effects of this treatment would be, and faced with no alternative they proceeded. Ultimately, the treatment was successful in defeating the cancer. Stacey found she didn’t have the energy she once had, but she was alive. She battled cancer at 18 and won.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” Proverbs 31:10
Stacey met Joe while they were in college during Christmas break after his first semester. Joe was at Anderson College in Indiana and Stacey was at Friends University studying education. Stacey agreed to go on a date with him when he returned for spring break. They met through a mutual friend and–of that first meeting–Joe would always say, “Wow, those brown corduroy pants!” He was smitten. Taken initially by her physical beauty.
After their first date, Joe returned to Anderson. While he was finishing out the school year he checked his mailbox and found a letter from that sweet young lady in Wichita. It was such a lovely letter and he was shocked to hear all that she had been going through during her cancer treatment and recovery. He wrote back to her and soon they were writing two letters a piece each week. In one letter Joe asked for a photo and Stacey sent him one of her beautiful graduation pictures. When he saw that picture it was all over. He was in love with this woman. Through those letters, Joe first said I love you to Stacey. She said she loved him too.
Initially, Barbara was on board with the relationship but her apprehension grew as she started to think about how these two would make it in the world. Both of them were still in school and neither had a full-time job. One evening at the house on Wood Street. Barbara asked Joe about how he was intending to provide for Stacey, “What are you going to live on, love?” Dad’s answer was a simple, “Yes”. On March 20, 1982 Mom and Dad were married. Mom walked down the aisle in a dress lovingly sewn by Barbara. The two have “lived on love” for 42 years.
“Her children rise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:28-31
On October 10, 1984, Stacey had a daughter, Micah. Ben was born four years later on the very same day. Stacey became a teacher and homeschooled both Micah and Ben. Each day was highly structured–beginning at 8:00 and ending at 3:00. Her home was beautiful and warm. She worked endlessly to maintain the place and provide a safe environment for her kids. She thoughtfully built out school curriculum each year, was active in our home school support group, led field trips, and coordinated school events for the other homeschooling families in the community: poetry readings, piano recitals, and musical and theater productions.
“Serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13b
Stacey always told her kids to remember this mnemonic device, J.O.Y. She said the key to having true joy was to J – put Jesus first, O – prioritize others second, and Y – think of yourself last. This was more than just a platitude for her. She actively did this every day of her life. She loved others in many different ways: serving and teaching in her local church community, hosting people in our home, and building and maintaining friendships over the years and across the country. Stacey had a passion for reading and loved to set up church libraries wherever she went and host summer reading programs. She also had a passion for young women and loved ministering and serving young women and girls both in and out of the local church community.
“Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.” Jeremiah 31:9
Early in life, Stacey faced difficult circumstances. But in Jesus Christ, she found a continuous well of strength that has poured out into the lives of all those in her life. The desire of her heart was that ultimately through her acts of service and love, some might come to know the same Jesus that she met in high school and come to have a relationship with Him. Stacey’s relationship with Jesus was for her a source of strength and wisdom. She faithfully prayed for her immediate and extended family and memorized the Bible incorporating its words into every part of her life.
“I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.” Psalm 13:6
Celebration of Life July 16, 2024 : https://www.youtube.com/live/d0STQpRVaBo?si=p7LFKpTsgK5EJzdg
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Stacey can be made to her church, Gold Canyon Community Church.
Newspaper Obituary:
Smith, Stacey L., age 62, of Wichita, passed away peacefully, Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona. Stacey was born May 10, 1962, in Wichita, Kansas to Gary A Nichols and Barbara A. Nichols (McClintock). She was united in marriage to Joseph W. Smith, who survives her, on March 20, 1982 at First Church of God, in Augusta, Kansas. She was deeply involved in service to the Lord Jesus Christ through church, homemaking, home schooling, and crisis pregnancy outreach. She studied early childhood education at Friends University and Wichita State University. Being led by the Lord, she used these skills to raise her children in a loving home school environment, Teal Academy, and she was a prayer warrior. Stacey is also survived by daughter Micah (Jason) Forni of Mesa, AZ; son Ben Smith of New Haven, CT; three grandchildren, Alina, Ethan, and Maeze Forni; mother and stepfather Barbara and Harry McClintock of Heber Springs, AR; father Gary Nichols of Wichita, KS; sisters Kelli (Shannon) Grate of Wichita, KS, Jennifer (Jace) Bowles of Wichita, KS, and Jessica (John) Sebok of Kernersville, NC; stepsister Terry Lee Willis (Stan) of Tulsa, OK; and stepbrother Mike Garrett (Tina) of Wichita, KS. Stacey was preceded in death by her stepmother Treva Nichols, grandparents Gene and Marie Suppes and Adrian and Wilma Nichols. Two celebration of life services will be held to celebrate this lovely lady: Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Gold Canyon Community Church at 5810 S. Alameda Road, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 and Saturday, September 21 at 9 a.m. at Hope Community Church at 1831 East 21st Street North, Andover, KS 67002, followed immediately by a graveside service at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, KS. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Stacey can be made to her church, Gold Canyon Community Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Stacey can be made to her church, Gold Canyon Community Church.
Celebration of Life
- Date & Time: July 16, 2024 (6:30 PM - 7:30 PM)
- Next Service: Https://www.youtube.com/live/d0STQpRVaBo?si=p7LFKpTsgK5EJzdg
- Venue: Gold Canyon Community Church
- Location: 5810 S Alameda Road Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 - (Get Directions)
Celebration of Life
- Date & Time: September 21, 2024 (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
- Venue: Hope Community Church
- Location: 1831 E 21st Street North Andover, KS 67002 - (Get Directions)