Grace Lee Spivey Smith

July 19, 2016

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Grace Lee Spivey Smith, 97, passed away July 19, 2016, in Austin, TX. She was born on January 4, 1919, to Victor and Ada Spivey near Winslow, AR. Following her graduation from high school, she attended John Brown University where she received a bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1939, after which she taught in Decatur, AR. Other positions she held were with the Farm Security Program, Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare, and Navy Waves. In 1946, she accepted a faculty position at John Brown University before returning to the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare. In 1949, began attending Oklahoma State University, receiving a master’s degree in 1951, after which joined the OSU Cooperative Extension Service. In 1960, she was granted a sabbatical from OSU to begin work on a doctorate at Cornell University, graduating in 1963. Grace then returned to her position at OSU, retiring in 1978, from her position as assistant to the dean of home economics for Cooperative Extension Programs. During her career, she was active in numerous professional organizations as well as in several honor groups. Grace and Haskell Smith were married in 1982. Following Dr. Smith’s death, she eventually moved to Austin, TX. Grace was predeceased by her parents and siblings Victor and Kathryn, as well as her step son, Darrell Smith. She is survived by two sisters and their families, Margaret Duff and Arlene Carter, as well as the children of her deceased sister Kathryn.