Julie (Whited) Smith

Julie Diane Smith was born July 6, 1975 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma the daughter of Roger Dale and Sue (Lawson) Whited. Julie was raised and received her education in Hominy, graduating from Hominy High School with the Class of 1993. During high school Julie began working at Hugs and Kisses Day Care after school as well as the summer time. While in school Julie was very active in cheerleading from elementary throughout high school. She was also a member of the two time state championship cheerleading squad in high school. After Julie graduated she enrolled at Oklahoma Baptist University where she met her future husband Ricky Lee Smith.

Julie was united in marriage to Rick Smith in Hominy, Oklahoma on February 10, 1996. After their marriage, Julie began working at the Osage County Coop and returned to college at Northeastern State University; graduating from NSU in 2000 with a Bachelors Degree in Education. Upon graduation, Julie accepted employment with the Hominy Public Schools teaching and molding the communityís future citizens. Julie was very active in the Hominy Public Schools; she participated in the Great Expectations Program, which promotes professional development providing teachers the skills needed to create harmony and excitement within the schoolís atmosphere. Additionally it provides elements that are basic for inspiring students to pursue academic excellence with a focus on promoting the human quality of teaching and learning. Julie would often seek out the student that was most would call ìthe problem childî. She would work countless hours with them to get them back on track and into the mainstream of the educational system again. Julie also had a gift of being able to scold a child without them even knowing it. Julie was also a cheerleading coach for the middle school. Cheerleading was a love that Julie had even while working at the Hugs and Kisses in high school she always would teach the girls a new cheer and work with them until it was right.


Julie had many hobbies that would include her family. She had a strong stamina to shop all day long. Julie enjoyed spending hours among hours with Rick, Madison and Hunter just being a family. She would also spend countless hours placing photos into scrapbooks of family and friends. Planning was a knack that Julie had. She would plan parties and execute them to the fullest extent imaginable. On of the most memorable and special vacations Julie took was with Rick, Madison and Hunter to Texas in the summer of 2005. Julie was always full of life, compassionate, loving and caring person towards all of those around. Julie was also a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Hominy, Oklahoma.

Julie went to be with her Lord and Saviour after a long courageous fight October 1, 2006, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 31 years 2 months and 25 days. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Kenneth Whited and maternal mother Betty (Lawson) Gaylord.

Survived by her loving husband, Rick Smith, two children, Madison and Hunter, all of the home; parents, Roger and Sue Whited of Hominy, Oklahoma; paternal grandmother, Mary Whited of Hominy, Oklahoma; sister, Amy and husband Stacy Neafus; nephews, Garrett and Griffin Neafus all of Bartlesville, Oklahoma as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

Private family graveside services will be held at 11:00 am October 5, 2006 with memorial services at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Hominy. Officiating will be Rev. Pete Martin, Pastor Kenny Christian and Coy Everett. Burial will be at A.J. Powell Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

Education Memorial funds in memory of Julie for Madison and Hunter has been set up at the First National Bank in Hominy: 117 North Price, Hominy, Oklahoma 74020.