JUDITH ANN RHOADS SMITH

Mrs. Judith Ann Rhoads Smith, age 79 passed away Saturday, April 20, 2019 in North Okaloosa Medical Center.  She was born February 29, 1940 in Middletown, Ohio, the daughter of Paul Earl Rhoads and Lucille Fox Rhoads.  She and her husband   Herb moved to the Santa Rosa Beach area in 1984 after visiting a family  friend “Elrod”.    Herb worked at Elrod’s Fishing Camp as a fishing guide until Elrod’s death.    She and Herb and their  family then moved to Freeport where they lived a few years until buying their home in DeFuniak Springs nearly thirty  years ago.    Judith had a love of the great outdoors and of nature and found enjoyment in the beauty of flowers which she spent countless hours planting and cultivating in her yard.  Known by the family for being the “stay-at-home mom”  Judith prided herself in providing delicious, delectable meals and was known by her children for her specialty, liver, onions and gravy.  In her later years family members and friends visiting Judith at home were certain to find her television on, twenty-four hours a day, tuned into MeTV.  She is predeceased by her  husband, her son, Herbert Martin Smith, Jr. and a grandson Tommy.

Among survivors are her daughters, Sharon Smith Peak and husband Kenneth, Beverly Smith Fein, Lisa Davis and husband Phillip, Susan Akers and Cathy Coffman.    Fourteen grandchildren, Melissa, Jamie, Angie, Amber, Ryonn, Jeremy, Noah, Timothy, Travis, Dana, Tyler, Viola, Laura and Torrie.  Thirty great grandchildren also survive.

Private family services will be held at a later date in Ohio.