Leota Mae Smiley, daughter of the late Ira Ernest Lambert and Lora Mae Rayburn Lambert, was born on April 27, 1930, at Parma and died in the Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter on Sept. 9, 2006, at the age of 76.

Mrs. Smiley was affiliated with Sugar Tree General Baptist Church where she was baptized, a homemaker and resident of Bernie.

She was united in marriage to Gale Redoma Smiley on Sept. 14, 1946, at Piggott, Ark. Mr. Smiley preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 1993.

Survivors include nine sons, James Edward Smiley of Kansas City, Kan., Artie Dale Smiley and Sherman Troy Smiley, both of Dexter, Patrick Ernest Smiley, Freddie Lee Smiley, Nicholas Dewayne Smiley, Richard Dean Smiley, Jeffery Scott Smiley, and Damon Keith Smiley, all of Bernie; four daughters, Judy Leota Carter and Catherine Carroll Owens, both of Bernie, Melba Sue Wilson of Catron and JoAnna Mae Arnold of Dexter; three brothers, Ronnie Lambert of Ellsinore, James Lambert of Chicago, Ill., and Pete Lambert of the state of Louisiana; two sisters, Doris Martin of Nashville, Tenn., and Ernestine Boatwright of Farmington; 28 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three grandchildren.

Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie.

Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie with Rev. Roger Fowler officiating.

Interment followed in the Bernie Cemetery.