Cornelia Smith, 102, of Mount Alto, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2009 at the home of her daughter, Ardis Shirley, following a brief illness.

Cornelia was a graduate of Ripley High School and, like her father, became a school teacher. After marriage and having a family, she no longer taught school but was the strongest possible advocate for a good education. She was an avid reader and continued to learn her entire life. She was a hard worker and a wonderful mother.

Cornelia was a member of the Church of Christ and a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 16 of Cottageville.

She was born Jan. 4, 1907, the oldest of nine children of Austin Addison and Bernice Iona (King) Kessel.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde B. Smith; daughters, Louise Hannum and Vivian Boston; grandson, Paul R. Shirley; brothers, Carroll, Albert, Robert and Ray Kessel; and sisters, Jessie Kay, Ruth Baker, Elsie Kay and Joan Warrender.

Survivors include her daughters, Janice Shirley of Richmond, Ohio, Doris (Gary) Strosnider of Winchester, Va., and Ardis Shirley of Mount Alto; sons, Clyde B. (Paula) Smith II of Millerstown, Pa., and Maurice K. Smith of Barboursville; sisters-in-law, Ruth Kessel of Hesperus, Colo., and Olive Stone of Belpre, Ohio; and brother-in-law, Richard Warrender of North Pawnal, Vt. She also has 25 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 at McCoys Conference Center in Ripley with Minister Denver Haught officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ripley. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at Casto Funeral Home in Evans. An Eastern Star service will begin at 7:45 p.m. today at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests buying a book for a child and dedicating it in Cornelia’s memory.

Online condolences may be sent to castofuneralhome@citynet.net.