Barbara Jean Stout Smith

Barbara Jean Stout Smith passed away July 26, 2021, at home with family and friends, at peace after a long illness.  Barbara was born February 17, 1947, in Garden City, Kansas, to Harold Lee Stout and Elva Inez Smith Stout.  Barbara grew up in Lone Elm, Lyndon, Valley Falls, and Ozawkie, Kansas.  She married Spencer Lee Smith of Larned, Kansas, on August 13, 1967, in Valley Falls.

Barbara graduated from Kansas State University with bachelor's degrees in Earth Science Education (1969) and Geology (1975) and a master's degree in Geology (1976).  She taught junior high science in Mississippi while Spencer was stationed there in the Navy.  She was the first female geologist for the Kansas Department of Transportation, where she worked building bridges and developing limestone aggregate testing methods for twenty-seven years.

Barbara and Spencer joined Countryside United Methodist Church in 1981.  Barbara held several positions in the Koinonia Circle of the United Methodist Women.  She was an active member of Topeka Lion's Club, where she was a Melvin Jones Fellow and held various Board positions, including president in 2007.

The list of Barbara's hobbies and interests is very long.  Watercolors, cozy mysteries, beaded necklaces, rocks, teaching children about rocks, gardening, cooking for special diets, Bible study, learning to read and write in Polish, singing, belly dancing, sewing, word puzzles and games, and so many more that she just ran out of time.  Spencer and Barbara traveled as much possible, visiting exchange students in Europe, attending the dedication (and giving the speech in Polish) of Countryside's sister-church in Katowice, Poland, and enjoying cruises through the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska.  They bought a little camper and camped their way across the U.S. and Canada several times.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her younger siblings Albert Stout and Debby Holliday.  Barbara is survived by her beloved Spencer, her children: son Spencer Bruce Smith and wife Pattie, daughter Vivien Smith and partner Kelly; her brother Philip and wife Janet Stout; sister-in law Shirley Stout; brother-in-law Steve Holiday; and three grandchildren, Caleb Akerstrom and Lauren and Rachel Harris.

Those who wish to remember Barbara in a special way may donate to Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Road, Topeka, KS 66611.  The family is planning a memorial service to be held at Countryside UMC at 11:00 on September 18, 2021.