Billie Estelle (Ray) Smith, 94, departed this life Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in her home in Springfield, Missouri. Billie's sweet and faithful spirit touched all who knew her, and she truly left this world a better place than she found it. This brief record of her life cannot begin to describe the love and warmth she radiated to all the lives she blessed along her way. We rest in the confidence that God keeps an eternal record, which will never be forgotten. Born January 21, 1915, in Blooming Rose, Missouri to Rosella E. (Williams) Ray and Alba Wilfred Ray, Billie grew up on Oakwood Farm, in Texas County, Missouri and in Licking, Missouri. She attended Southwest Missouri State Teacher's College in Springfield, Missouri (now Missouri State University) where she earned her degree, Bachelor of Science in Education, 1938. She attained a Specialist degree in Reading, with other post-graduate work at Drury College (now Drury University), The University of Iowa and The University of Colorado. Billie began her teaching career in the elementary grades in Licking and Edgar Springs, Missouri. She taught High School in Norwood, MO and in North English, Iowa, and kindergarten in Sullivan, MO and at Boyd Elementary in Springfield. In the Springfield R-12 district she also taught in McGregor, Sherwood, Tefft, Study, Mark Twain, Weller and Bingham Schools, until she retired in 1982. She loved teaching. Every student was important to her, as she nurtured and respected each as an individual. On December 10, 1941, she married Sherrod Suttle Smith, from Birmingham, Alabama. She is survived by their children Sheri Lynn (Smith) Levine, and her husband Eugene, Karen Ray (Smith) Parry and her husband Ron, Marsha Dale (Smith) Beyer and Stephen Sherrod Alba Smith, and his wife, Naomi. Her grandchildren include Sally and Lincoln Smith, Ashleigh Beyer and Jennifer (Tipton) Yarbrough, Jill and Oliver Shepherd, and great-grandchildren, Mikayla Marie Yarbrough and Ryker James Peters. Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Sherrod Smith (1998) of Springfield, her father, Alba W. Ray (1955) her mother Rosella E. Ray (1988), and her brother Alba W. Ray, Jr. ("Junior") (1975), all of Licking, her sister Sarah Elizabeth Sphar (1963) of Springfield, and her nephew Thomas Ray Sphar, (2005) of St. Louis. She is survived by nieces and nephews Linda Beth (Ray) Concoby, and husband John, of Rogers, Arkansas, Debra Ray of Danville, MO, Jan Ray of Springfield, Richard Sphar and wife Denise, of Duke, MO, John Sphar and his wife Debbie of St. Louis, and Tom's widow Betty Sphar of St. Louis. Billie will be missed by her many good friends and dear neighbors and her loving caregivers, who were always there for her every need. They became precious members of the family. Services are under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, 1947 East Seminole. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday, March 22, 2-4 PM. A Graveside Service will be held at Hazelwood Cemetery on Monday, March 23, at 11 AM, with The Reverend Emily S. Bowen, officiating. All are welcome to both. Memorial contributions may be made to The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, 940 N. Jefferson, Springfield, MO, 65802, in memory of Billie E. Smith, or to St. John's Hospice Care, 1378 E. Republic Road, and Springfield, MO 65804 in memory of Billie E. Smith.