Marcia Lee Smith, 68, of Independence, MO, passed away September 30, 2024, at Centerpoint

Medical Center, Independence, following a cardiac procedure. Marcia's life will be celebrated by

family and friends in Iowa on Saturday, December 7. Details pending.

Marcia was born November 29,1955, in Grinnell, IA, the third child of Harold Frank Mason and Karen

Alyce (Meldrem) Mason. She was preceded in death by her parents (Harold, 1994; Karen 2012);

brother Hubert "Bert" Harold Mason (2001); husband Barry Thiede (2013); nephew Brian Amenson

(1979); and mother-in-law Donis Smith (2020).

Marcia is survived by husband Scott Smith; sons Jason Mason of Yachats, OR, and Travis Shore, his

wife Marrona and their children William, Joshua and Rosalynn Shore all of Neosho, MO; sisters Deb

Amenson (Jerry) of Des Moines, IA, and Toni Mason (Jane Reyer) of Yachats, OR; brothers Rock

Mason (Deb) of Colo, IA, and Steve Mason (Kelly) of Bloomington, IL. Also surviving are many

nieces, nephews, cousins, a few aunts and uncles including the family's most senior uncle, Roger

Mason of Marshalltown, IA; father-in-law Ken Smith of Cedar Falls, IA; Scott's sister Kim (Jeff)

Thompson of Cedar Falls; adult children Chase Smith (Erica) of Edgerton, MO, and Siera Giffen

(Andrew) of North Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Kendall & Connor Smith and Everly & Ryker

Giffen; Barry's siblings Val Baughman, Dawn Tucker and Mike Thiede. Also, former husbands David

Hanks and Dave Shore survive.

Those are the facts, but those that knew and loved Marcia recognize there is much more to tell.

Harold's truck driving jobs landed the family in several Iowa towns plus ones in Utah and Illinois. That

truck driving life provided Marcia's origin story. Likely in answer to Deb's 3.5-year-old curiosity "Where

did you get that baby?" Harold answered that he found her on a fencepost, stopped his rig and

brought her home.

When Marcia was asked, "Where you from?" Marcia didn't hesitate. "Roland" where her family landed

in 1965 when Marcia was all of nine. Roland, where Marcia attended school, made life-long friends

and along with her entire family was baptized at Bergen Lutheran Church. In her youth Marcia

enjoyed playing sports with classmates (Go Roland Rockets and RS Norsemen) and swam for hours

at the Roland Pool. Marcia and lifelong friend Pam Chance always found fun which their parents may

have described as trouble. As adults they made many memories at concerts, trips and just hanging

out. And there was the time they threw a party to celebrate their 50th birthdays in Jamaica, as in

Jamaica, IA. There are photos.

In her late teens Marcia tried her hand at cutting and curling hair, graduating from Bernel's College of

Cosmetology. It was a talent appreciated by family, friends and clients, but turned out not her life-long

calling. Marcia shared Harold's interest in trucks and joined her parent's truck fabrication company

Ideal Beverage Trucks in Ames, IA. Like many relatives that worked for Harold, Marcia didn't start in

the front office but rather in the plant, both painting and decaling trucks, and the story is it was not-yet

husband Barry who trained Marcia in these new skills. They both spent some years at the company's

Ohio plant. In 1973 and 1978, respectively, sons Jason and Travis were born in Ames. Marcia loved her boys

more than they can ever know. One of the best gifts she shared with them was her love of gatherings.

Marcia welcomed family and friends to her homes. There were many memorable holidays and parties

especially at her 16th & Carroll Ames home. It was the spot for impromptu and planned get-togethers

including Marcia's "mean" Sunday pot roast, Easter egg hunts, playing Nertz and badminton or

shooting the breeze and listening to tunes in the Tiki Hut.

Following Harold's passing and the later closing of the truck fabricating business, Marcia moved to

the Kansas City area in 2006, following husband Barry to his new job. During the KC years Marcia

worked as an office assistant or accountant at various trucking/parts businesses. Following Barry's

passing, Toni convinced Marcia to take a once-in-a lifetime road trip to the West Coast, landing in

Yachats. Toni tried to keep Marcia in Oregon but she missed her sons and grands. The return trip had

Rock flying to Oregon to help with the drive home. Took more than a week as they crossed at least

six states with Marcia behind the wheel every mile. The driver seat was always her seat. Marcia

quickly settled back in KC, returning to office work and enrolling at the University of Phoenix, later

earning an associate degree in accounting and finance.

The very best of Marcia's KC years came in 2016, with her morning way-to-work stops for iced tea at

the local Kwik Stop. There Marcia connected with another morning regular, Scott Smith. It wasn't a

surprise to learn that Scott worked in the trucking industry. They were Soulmates from the get-go.

Surrounded by family and friends they married September 1, 2018. What a joy to share their later-in-

life love. As a couple they enjoyed gathering with friends at local pubs, dancing and always listening

to music while chilling on the deck. They took many Iowa trips visiting families and friends plus visits

with the grands. Both were Chief fans and Scott quickly learned to love the Cyclones. Marcia's final

Facebook post celebrated the Cyclones win over the Hawkeyes.

In the fall of 2022 Marcia retired, with Scott following in the winter of 2023.

As 2024 began Marcia's health subtly declined. In August and September issues of artery and liver

diseases surfaced. During the recent hospital days, Scott repeated more than once that he simply

loved Marcia and especially admired how she just accepted everyone. As Scott would go off to get

the McDonalds fish sandwich that Marcia thought she could eat, her refrain was always, "Scott's so

good to me." It's a phrase family heard often during all the years they had together.

As Marcia's life has ended, family and friends lift cheers to the next life, celebrating and cherishing

her smiles and laughter. God bless the memories of Marcia Lee Mason Smith.