Martha Anne (Roper) Smith, died on Monday October 13th, peacefully, surrounded by her family.  She was 100yrs. young.  The daughter of O.M. "Pat" Roper and Alma C. O'Connell, Martha was born and raised in Springfield, Mo.  She had three brothers: Martin, Phillip, and Max.  Martha was married to Burney O. Smith, with whom she had three children: Patricia Smith, Kim (Bruce) Barrett, and Brad (Alicia) Smith.  Martha had one granddaughter, Karima Berkat Gilbert, and two great-grandsons, Liam and Carter Gilbert, who also live in Springfield.  She was a very involved grandmother, and a very loving great-grandmother.  She came to be known as "Bobo," after her first great-grandson named her that, when he was learning to speak.

Martha worked in the Infants and Children's department of Dillards, for several years.  After her father's business, Roper Electric, changed ownership, Martha and her father created and ran Pat Roper Electric Company until she sold it a few years after Pat Roper's death in 1986.  In her 60's she began working for the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, as the kitchen manager at multiple senior centers.  She didn't retire until she was in her eighties.

Martha was always busy.  She was an avid "mall walker," for many years.  At home, she was either cooking, or cleaning.  Her pecan brittle was a favorite of many.  She would make (by hand) and sell hundreds of pounds of her brittle, every year around Christmas time.
Martha kept a full social calendar.  She was a member of the business sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, was part of several bridge clubs, and would regularly meet with friends to play dominos, or just visit.  Martha and her husband were part of a motor home group, The Hillbilly Rollers, with which they traveled for many years.  She also loved to fish, mostly for crappie.

Family was very important to Martha.  Dogs were also considered family members, and were a big part of Martha's life.  She always shared her home and life with at least one dog, and was happy to support organizations dedicated to helping animals. Her last dog was a rescued Toy Poodle named Maisey (who now lives with her granddaughter).

Martha lived in her home until the age of 94, when she moved to the Montclair.  Unfortunately, Martha fell and broke her hip in November of 2023. She went to James River Rehabilitation Center after her surgery, but ended up loving the people at James River, and decided to stay there. Martha was visited by friends and family, she made new friends, played a lot of dominos, and had weekly visits with her granddaughter and great-grandsons, which she always looked forward to.  During their weekly visits, Karima almost always brought Maisey.  Martha was always telling people about her dog, so nearly everyone at James River knew who Maisey was!

Martha was always moving, stayed socially active, and never wasted time.  She loved her family, her dogs, and a small bowl of Blue Bell chocolate ice cream, every night.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband and three brothers.  She is survived by her three children, granddaughter, and great-grandsons.

Visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Private burial will be held in Hazelwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Martha's name may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, 3161 West Norton Road, Springfield, MO 65803.