Carol J. Smith

Carol J. Smith, age 63, died peacefully at her home in Eden Valley on Monday, January 17 surrounded by family and friends, ending a five year fight with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, January 21, 2011 at the Church of Our Lady in Manannah with Monsignor Garvey officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00PM until 8:00 PM at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield with Parish prayers at 7:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Darwin this spring. Carol Joan Smith was born on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947 to Orpha (Michelson) and Robert W. Smith in Litchfield, MN. She grew up on the family farm between Litchfield and Darwin. She attended District 15, a one-room rural school through sixth grade. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 1965 and went to St. Cloud State University where she majored in Physical Education and Health. After graduating from SCSU in 1969, she taught for two years at Mora High School. In 1971 she began teaching at Paynesville High School where she taught for 32 years until her retirement in 2003. When Carol arrived at Paynesville, there were no girls' sports. While at Paynesville, she established the girls' sports program by coaching basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, and softball. In 2005 Paynesville High School established the Paynesville Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame, and Carol, along with seven others, were the first Paynesville alumni inducted. Carol was an avid sports enthusiast. Though there were no girls' sports in high school at the time she attended, she participated in volleyball, basketball, track, softball and badminton while at St. Cloud State. She played softball in the Litchfield Women's league for over 30 years, volleyball in Willmar for over 25 years, and played in tennis and golf leagues. She was a member of the St. Cloud State University Hall of Fame selection committee for several decades. She was also an avid Twins fan and enjoyed attending games and collecting bobbleheads. Carol loved her dogs. Neighbors would often see her taking them for long walks on the country roads. She also enjoyed reading, especially mystery novels. She and eight other friends established ""The Thirsty Minds Book Club"" to discuss mystery novels, but more importantly, to enjoy each other's company and celebrate life. She loved to cook and enjoyed hosting gatherings at her home. She enjoyed gardening, especially planting the seeds indoors and helping them to harden so they could thrive outdoors. She loved to travel and was able to visit 49 states as well as several foreign countries. Carol will be remembered for her positive attitude, her sense of humor (even in times when many would despair), her spiritual strength, her courage, her kindness and charity towards others, and her great capacity to love. Her presence made the world a better place, and she will be greatly missed. Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents, her parents, and her brother Richard. She is survived by her nephew Bill (Dee) Smith, her niece Stacie (and Mel) Gambert, two great nephews, and a great number of friends. Carol's friends and family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the CentraCare Cancer center chemotherapy and infusion unit, the nurses on the fifth floor oncology unit at the St. Cloud Hospital, and the people from Ecumen Hospice Care in Litchfield who provided such wonderful and loving care. Previous Events Visitation Thursday, January 20, 2011 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Friday, January 21, 2011 10:30 AM Church of Our Lady, Manannah 57382 CSAH 3 Manannah, MN 56243