Martha Kay (Reberry) Smith

Martha Kay (Reberry) Smith passed away peacefully on December 17, 2019, after a two-week battle with pneumonia while being surrounded by her loving family. Kay was born in Ft. Riley, Kan., to her parents (Col.) Gerald V. Reberry and Mary Janet (Lyon) Reberry of Jefferson, Iowa, on June 7, 1944. She was raised in and married into a military family and traveled the world through various assignments. Kay contracted polio as a child and was hospitalized with a full body cast for over a year in her early high school years. This led to her being confined to a wheelchair later in life and even contributed to her death. Despite this, Kay never let her ailments slow her down or keep her from the doing things that she loves. She graduated from American High School, in Nuremberg Germany. It is there where she met a charming West Point Graduate, Warren S. Smith. They fell in love and were married for 57 years. They continued the military tradition while Kay raised her children living throughout the United States. Their last station of duty was in Hawaii where they decided to settle down. Kay relished the responsibilities of being an "officer's wife", although coming into her own after Warren's retirement teaching RCI classes and being very active in their local catholic parish, St. John's the Evangelist in Mililani, Hawaii. She continued teaching classes and preaching the gospel until her passing. Kay went back to school after her children graduated high school and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Chaminade University. Kay's greatest loves were her family and friends, a vast love of reading, and her profound faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Also, it brought Kay great pleasure spending time with her children and grandchildren. And although they were spread throughout the country, she kept in close contact and stayed very active in her children's and grandchildren's lives. It wasn't unusual for Kay to read several books in a week. She hosted a weekly bible study with her friends from church every Tuesday where the ladies discussed bible readings and enjoyed a little wine together. Kay LOVED the human spirit and was one of the best examples of all that is good within it. She wanted to save the world and she spent her days doing so in her own ways. She helped start a women's shelter for unwed mothers, adopted children who became homeless, donated to countless philanthropic causes, took in and provided for people struggling with addiction and did so much more. She was referred to as "Mom" to hundreds of kids who needed a parent figure in their lives. It wasn't unusual for someone to call the house and ask for "Mom" and recently as "Miss Kay". She was always there for anybody in need while still providing more than imaginable to her family. Kay's favorite cause was coming home to care for her aging mother who passed away a month from her 100th birthday in 2018. Kay loved her mother and the time they spent together over the last fifteen years were the best of her life. Kay greatly enjoyed living in the Bella Vista community and relished all the friendships she developed there. Kay's passion was religious education, especially for the children at St. Bernard's Parish where she spent much of her available time. She often expressed her love for this faith community and all the friendships she developed there. Kay is survived by her husband Warren, her five children, Warren and Teresa Smith of Sacramento, Calif.; Mary Smith and her partner Mary Fay of West Hartford, Conn.; Theresa and Randy Renfro of Garland, Texas; Kathleen of Eugene, Ore., and William Ammons of San Francisco Calif.; six grandchildren Dominic Smith, Nicholas Smith, Jessica Hernandez, Cody Renfro, Daniel Grey-Cloud, and Kathleen Fay-Smith; and her great-grandchild Kyler Hernandez. Kay has two surviving brothers, David Reberry (wife Marita) of Lone Tree, Colo., and Robert Reberry of San Diego, Calif. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista, Monday, December 30th at 10 a.m. The mass will be preceded with a rosary at 9.30 and will be followed by a reception at the parish hall. All are welcome. Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.