Inez Smith

Inez Laverne Sisson, the first-born child of a modest family of hardworking Nebraska farmers, was born July 12, 1932. Inez was 89 when she passed from this world at 10:35 p.m. on October 31, 2021, to join her husband of 69 years, Jack Warren Smith, in eternity.

Her father Claude Lester Sisson and mother Ella Goldie (Longwell) Sisson moved the family several times: from Nebraska to Illinois, then on to Virginia (a couple different places including Virginia Beach) then to Indiana, Ohio and then back to Indiana; always working for large corporate farms/landowners. Claude was an expert in his field and focused on hog farming, often managing the breeding and farrowing programs. Both parents preceded her in death, as did her younger brother Charles Lester Sisson, an infant brother William Arthur Sisson and her loving husband Jack. Her sister-in-law Patricia (Uselman) Sisson survives.  

As a young teenager, Inez and her family landed on a farm in Lafayette, IN. They lived in a nice, new 3-bedroom home and several farm-hand families with children of all ages lived in close proximity. The older kids formed their own baseball team and Inez remembered what great fun they had as young teens playing ball and hiding among the bales of hay in huge barns. While in Lafayette, her grandmother Lottie Longwell came to stay with the family for a while. At first, Inez was dismayed to find that Grandma Lottie would be “bunking” with her. Lottie was so kind, took Inez under her wing and they became exceptionally good friends. Inez said looking back, it was one of the best things in her life for her and Lottie both to have roomed together. Inez always said her time in Lafayette, with her grandmother and other kids her age, were the fondest memories of her childhood!

In 1949 the family relocated for the final time to Centenary, Indiana where Inez completed her senior year of high school at Clinton High. Here she met Jack Warren Smith on a blind date, attended her senior prom and the two were married on August 26, 1950. Their first home was an apartment above a grocery store in Clinton. Jack owned and drove a dump truck for a living and Inez remembered how cold it got in the apartment on winter weekends when the store below them shut down and the owners turned off the heat! Soon however, they left the apartment and trucking life, and with their firstborn son Michael in tow, they moved around the country while pipefitting; in places like Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Savannha River, South Carolina; Gary/Whiting, Indiana; to name a few. After about 6 years, the family returned to Clinton where Jack worked for Southard Trucking and ran the local concrete Ready-Mix plant. Together, they raised 4 wonderful children. While Inez kept house mostly, she also worked outside the home for a local doctor while tending the kids. She and Jack also loved to square dance with friends, and they enjoyed camping on weekends. They owned a Winnebago motor home for a while and took many trips. Inez worked tirelessly for her family; she was a skillful seamstress who made lots of clothes, quilts, and table coverings; a wonderful cook, and an avid flower gardener, passing many of these skills along to her kids and grandchildren.

In 1975, the family bought their own trucking company. Inez worked for years in the company office as bookkeeper alongside her sister-in-law, Betty Smith (who also survives). Dump Trucks Inc. has turned into a thriving and extraordinarily successful family business that continues to operate today being run by sons and grandsons, leaving a wonderful family legacy.

Immediate family survivors include four (4) Children: 
Michael (Donna) Smith – Clinton, IN                                                                                                                   Steve (Lynette) Smith – Clinton, IN
Janet (Bob) Heskett – Clinton, IN
Ron Smith – Clinton, IN                                                                                          Toni Roman/Smith - former daughter-in-law
Nine (9) grandchildren: Garrett Smith, Suzanne (Chad) Gossett, Mick (Tiffany) Smith, Ross (Jordan) Heskett, Eric (Leah) Smith, Morgan Smith, Holley (Andrew) Volk, Lucas (Maggie) Roman & Emilee Roman. Ten (10) great grandchildren include: Marlee Plank, Adalyn Cruitt, Emma Roman, Ellany Smith, Jack Smith, Connor Gossett, Claire Heskett, Mia Smith, Kiera Roman & Reid Volk. She is also survived by nephews Doug, Jeff and Brad Sisson and their families.   

Graveside internment services for family and close friends are planned for 2pm on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Clinton, Indiana with Pastor Bill Felts officiating. There will be no public visitation, but condolences are welcome and since she was an active member of Salem United Methodist Church, donations in her memory may be made to Salem United Methodist Church at 11096 S. 250 E. Clinton, IN, 47842. The family extends a special thank you to the staff at Meadows Manor North and SouthernCare Hospice for their wonderful and compassionate care.

Arrangements are being handled by Frist Funeral Home in Clinton, Indiana.

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