Mary Katherine Smitherman
June 5, 1933 ~ September 24, 2024
Mary Katherine (Kay) (Stohler) Smitherman, 91, Mooresville, passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. She was born in Anderson, Indiana on June 5, 1933 to Lloyd Jordan Stohler and Velma Katherine (Bronnenberg) Stohler.
She attended School 60 in Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1951. She graduated from Indiana University in January of 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Education Studies. She married Bruce Ronald Smitherman on April 1, 1956. She first taught in 1955 in Speedway, then kindergarten in Japan, and then 3rd grade at West Newton elementary school before taking several years off to have her family. She returned to teaching and began teaching 1st grade in Mooresville in 1977 and later retired in 1998. She earned a Master of Education degree from DePauw University in 1980.
Kay loved children and teaching. She made a positive impact in the lives of many students, colleagues, friends, and families.
She was a member of Tri Kappa Sorority, Decatur Garden Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Teaching Sorority, and Daughters of the America Revolution.
Kay is preceded in death by her parents (1982), her husband (1994), her eldest daughter Elise S. Montoya (2022), and her sister Martha Louise (Stohler) Baumler (2018). She is survived by her daughter Kristin Kay Smitherman, brother Lloyd Robert Stohler (Sylvia), son-in-law Dr. Fernando R. Montoya, grandsons Ethan Daniel and Alec Benjamin Montoya, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Kay’s Life Celebration® Service will begin at 6:00 pm on Saturday, September 28th at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, 39 E. High St., Mooresville. Prior to the service, family and friends are invited to visit from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. She will be laid to rest in Anderson Memorial Park, 6805 Doctor M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Anderson, after a brief committal service on Monday, September 30th beginning at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed to the ALS Association, PO Box 37022, Boone, IA. 50037-0022 or Autism Speaks, PO Box 37148, Boone, IA. 50037-0148.
Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Kristin: I am so sorry to learn of your mother’s passing. She was a wonderful teacher and even nicer person. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Sorry for your loss.Sorry we cannot be there for the celebration. Very nice lady. The Wallace Napier family.
Visits from D.C. to Indiana were always hectic. Whether by plane, train, automobile, or some combination, it was always an effort for our little family to get there and return. No matter. Once we arrived at Aunt Kay’s, we settled into such a welcoming atmosphere that we soon forgot all about our travel woes. Her house was filled with charming rustic furniture, hand-painted porcelain, antique linens, and the aroma of good home cooking. Meals we shared with Aunt Kay and Kristin warmed us from the inside out. Everything in that home was a reflection of the gifted hostess.
One day long ago, we decided to go antique shopping, so we descended on the little village of Zionsville. Although Aunt Kay was having some walking problems, she still led the way around the town. As the day continued, the atmosphere became stormy, and turbulent clouds were building up. Suddenly, a powerful noise pierced the air, reminding me of an old-fashioned air-raid siren. Immediately, we dashed to the car, and Kristin put the pedal to the metal. As it turns out, it was a tornado warning! In spite of the excitement in Zionsville, Aunt Kay didn’t miss a beat. That evening, she served a lovely dinner for visiting family. We will always remember Aunt Kay as a very warm, loving and accomplished person with a very big heart.
I was sorry to learn about your mother. She was a very nice person. I always enjoyed our conversations, which at times could be quite lengthy. She had a wonderful way of conversing with me about her many interests.