Smith, Karen Marie


Services celebrating the life of Karen Marie Smith, 49, of Longview will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 03, 2015, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home at 1617 Judson Rd., Longview, Texas 75606 with Pastor Jeff Reynolds officiating. In honor of her wishes, cremation arrangements will be under the direction of Rader Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith was born August 28, 1965, in St. Louis, MO to Gerald and Claudine Noel. Karen was the youngest sibling with four older brothers. She grew up and lived in the St. Louis area most of her life until moving to Longview in 2013.

Mrs. Smith graduated from Hazelwood Central High School in 1983. In 1984, she began her professional career as a Retail Associate with Venture Stores. For 16 years, Mrs. Smith was a loyal and dedicated employee holding various positions in Accounting, Training, Payables Supervisor and lastly Bankruptcy Administrator, reporting directly to the President. From 2001-2012, she worked for Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation as an Executive Assistant. In addition to her administrative duties, she coordinated company meetings, served on Process Improvement Teams and Marketing activities.

Karen was kind, gracious and a giving soul. She cared for so many others while asking very little for herself. Devoted to her husband, family and friends. She proudly volunteered in charitable events with United Way, Habitat for Humanity and American Cancer Society and others. She loved life, traveling with Seattle being a favorite, music, cooking, her St. Louis Cardinals and her dogs who she treated as Kings and Queens. 

She had aspirations of finding some acreage to live on, have a big garden, animals and enjoy the beauty of nature. However, Karen was called to her home in Heaven early Monday morning December 22, 2014. Always determined and optimistic, she had fought a rare and serious skin disease associated with an immune system disorder for 18 months. Karen was a thoughtful and loving person and will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her eldest brother, Glen Noel. 

Survivors are husband, James Derek Smith of Longview, TX., brother William Noel of Florissant, MO., brother Tom Noel and wife Cathy of Florissant, MO., brother Mike Noel and wife Terri, sister-in-law Joan Noel of Hazelwood, MO., numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and extended family. Also are father and mother –in-law Jim and Linda Smith of Tyler, TX; brother and sister-in-law Brent and Stephanie Smith and nieces of Forney, TX.