Dear Loved Ones,

Karen and I want you to know about our dear mama, Pink. She was named Mildred Nadine Hall at birth. But for all of her 93 years, she was known as Pink. Her life took her to many places in the U.S. and abroad. She met her Savior Jesus on Monday, December 11, 2023, while living at Nixa Nursing & Rehab.

Mama was born on June 19,1930, to Charles and Edna Hall in Springfield, Missouri. Her older brother, Paige and sister, Betty were present at the home birth. Upon seeing his little sister, Paige announced that her name is Pinkle, due to her pink cheeks. The name stuck until she was older, then it was shortened to Pink. Later came brothers Bud, Sonny, and Jerry,

The family was poor, but there was an abundance of love. Pink had a love for her family, lots of friends, and even strangers. Karen and I could not think of a single person about whom she had spoken unkindly. Eventually, that love caused her to leave school her sophomore year and get a job at Patton's Creamery to help support the family.

One day she stopped by City Drug at the lunch hour, when she heard someone say, "Hey Hon, sit here with us. We have room for you and your friend." Astonished at the brash behavior of the handsome young man, she refused the offer. Luckily, the young man was not as abrasive the next time he saw her. While Pink was working at Taylor's Drive-In, she finally accepted a date with Louis B. Smoots, who later became our father.

Mildred Hall and Louis Smoots were married May 13,1950, in Boone County, Arkansas. Their "honeymoon period" was cut short with the arrival of Debra 9 months later, and Karen 3 1/2 years after that.

Mama's life was devoted to her family. With beef they raised themselves and a freezer full of chicken, Mama cooked three meals a day for her little family. In addition to the cooking, cleaning, sewing, doing laundry, and caring for her parents and mother-in-law; she always had time for each of us and Daddy. Sometimes I would tell Mama that I was going on a journey, so she would give me some crackers and water for the trip to the apple orchard that Daddy had planted next door. Other times she was helping Karen with something, such as learning Psalm 23. That took a long time for such a little girl, but Mama didn't mind. As I look back, Mama had the amazing gift of making each person she was with feel like they were her favorite. Maybe they were her favorite at that moment.

Pink was an amazing woman. Her departure leaves a deep wound in the hearts of her daughters, Debbie and Karen; grandchildren, Jeremy, Justin, Derek, and Alicia; great-grandchildren, Connor, Isabelle, Clara Joe, Dalton, Luke, and Dustin; their mothers, Bethann, Amanda, and Hannah; son-in-law, Curt; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Although we did not want her to leave, we are certain that she was greeted in Heaven by Daddy and all of her loved ones who had gone on before.

We are grateful to Rev. Dennis Miller and Rev. Sarah Fotopulos for leading this last earthly celebration at Aldersgate Church in Nixa, Missouri. The visitation will be at 1:00 PM, with the funeral to follow at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 20,2023. Burial will be at White Chapel Memorial Gardens Cemetery in the Veterans section in Springfield, Missouri. Online condolences may be made at klingnerfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in memory of Mildred "Pink" Smoots to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Love always,
Debbie and Karen