Iris "Yvonne" Smith passed from this life peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2025. She was surrounded by family and comforted as she transitioned into her eternal home. She was 90 years young, and 90 years loved.

A celebration of life will be scheduled later in her hometown of Salina, Oklahoma.

She was born Iris Yvonne Baker on May 28, 1934, in Wilmore, Kansas, to Rodrick and Alzina (Burditt) Baker. For her whole life, she was known as Yvonne or "Bonnie." She enjoyed growing up in this small farming community with her two sisters, Nita Lou and Ruth Ann. Her father owned the local gas station, and her mother was a homemaker. Yvonne attended two years of business college after graduating high school and then married her hometown beau, Melvin Smith. She found her true calling as a wife and mother to the four children she and Melvin welcomed into their home: Melody, Monte, Greta, and Hope. The young family spent their early years in Wilmore and later Coldwater, Kansas.

In 1962, just before the birth of their youngest, Hope, the couple moved to northeast Oklahoma, where they purchased an area of undeveloped woodland and began the adventure that would consume the next several decades of their lives. Yvonne, Melvin, and their family used their "farm" as a weekend getaway while moving several times, following job opportunities, and saving to build their dream home. With Melvin's skills as a builder, the entire family became involved in the project, and in 1972, they made their permanent move to Salina, Oklahoma. From then until Melvin's passing in 1995, Yvonne and Melvin engaged in various endeavors while raising their family in the beautiful backwoods of northeast Oklahoma on the banks of Little Saline Creek.

They owned several businesses, including a lumberyard/hardware store and a western wear clothing store, where Yvonne was the primary manager. She cherished visiting with customers, many of whom became lifelong friends. She often shared how much she loved helping her Western Wear customers find just the right fit in a pair of boots. In the hardware business, she became an expert in plumbing fittings, enjoying the challenge of helping do-it-yourselfers find the right parts. She quickly became the "go-to" person for advice on everything from building materials and gardening tips to sewing, canning, and western fashion.

Yvonne and Melvin were founding members of the Salina Christian Church, where they served as teachers and leaders and eventually functioned as lay pastors until Melvin's passing. Yvonne's gifts as a pianist, teacher, and culinary artist were used to serve her church and community throughout the years.

After Melvin's sudden passing in 1995, Yvonne faced life with the same faith and strength she had always shown. She remained on the farm for several years, working various jobs while transitioning into a new chapter of her life.

Several years later, Yvonne moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, to help care for her youngest grandchildren during their preschool years while her daughter, Greta, returned to work. She was a blessing to all of her grandchildren and always felt her calling was to help her children and grandchildren in practical ways. While in Lawton, she was an active member of Western Hills Christian Church. She enjoyed being part of the quilting ministry, Feed the Hungry program, and church kitchen team and attending Sunday school, where she built many friendships and engaged in lively discussions about her faith.

Yvonne was blessed to experience love again, marrying Ray Nickelson in 2008. They enjoyed traveling across the U.S. in an RV, taking a cruise, and visiting Hawaii before Ray's untimely passing from cancer in 2009.

Several years later, she met and married Billy F. Wood from Duncan, Oklahoma. Both were 82 years old when they married in June 2017. They embraced life with youthful hearts, enjoying dancing, jigsaw puzzles, couponing, and maintaining their large yard. Yvonne had a deep love for gardening, often sharing plants, bulbs, and cuttings with friends and family.

Billy passed away in February 2024, and Yvonne moved into her daughter Greta's home, living independently in a small apartment. She remained active, continuing to drive herself to church and the store until near the end of her life. In May 2024, her family, friends, and neighbors gathered to celebrate her 90th birthday at the church in Salina, where she and Melvin had served so faithfully. It was a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, memories, and reconnection—one that Yvonne cherished deeply.

Her life was marked by resilience, faithfulness, and a spirit of service—to her family, her faith, and her community. We have been blessed to call her mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, sister, and teacher. She was well-loved and will be truly missed.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Ann Baker (Chapel Hill, NC), her four children and their spouses, Melody and Chuck Walker (Broken Arrow, OK), Monte and Thea Smith (North Syracuse, NY), Greta and Brent Worthington (Lawton, OK), and Hope White/husband Ron Deceased (Vinita, OK). Grandchildren include Beth Darbe, Carrie Savage, Christal Haner, Danielle Smith, Hannah Smith, Joel Worthington, Shea Worthington, Bob White. Great-grandchildren include Blu Stephens (husband Gabriel) and Gene White, Grant, Logan and Mia Darbe, Holland, Hudson, Sydney and Walker Savage, Ethan, Elliana, and Isaiah Haner. Great great grandson is Malaki Stephens.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Nita Schmidt, husband of 40 years, Melvin Wayne Smith, husbands Ray Nickelson and Billy F. Wood, her son-in-law Ron White, her grandchildren Lucas Smith, Happy White, Ford White, and Ronnie White.

The woman of virtue described in Proverbs 31:10-31 is the perfect description of Yvonne. Every characteristic mentioned there is who she was her whole life. Love you, Mom.