Obituary for Diana K. Smothers
Our sweet mama, Diana K. Smothers, went to join our daddy resting in the arms of Jesus on February 14, 2021. She was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on December 27, 1935 to Wendell and Evelyn (Beckwith) Wilson. Diana met and married her loving husband, JW Smothers in 1952 when Diana was 16 years old. Together they established their home and family in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Diana worked as a stay at home mom and eventually ran daddy’s business, Battle Creek TV & Stereo. In addition, from 1980 until 2016, Diana was very successful with breeding, raising, and showing Chow Chows and Pekingese Dogs. During that time, Diana did a great deal of mentoring in her art with dogs. During her career, she brought more than 55 dogs to AKC Championship status, even having her champion Chow Chow, Sandman, in the Westminster Dog Show.
Diana is survived by her daughters, Paula J. (Douglas Richard) Rasey and Teri L. (David Jeffery) Jones and the light of her life, granddaughter, Danica “Sissy” Lynn Rasey. She is preceded in death by her husband, JW Smothers; her parents; brothers, David Daniel Wilson, Howard Theodore Barnes, Alvin Eugene Barnes, Robert Elliott Wilson, Wendell Wilson, Jr., Ivan Arthur Wilson and sister, Arlene Lee Wilson.
During her 85 years, Diana held firm in her faith and is now walking in Heaven’s streets of gold.
In accordance with Diana’s wishes, cremation has taken place and she will be interred next to her husband at a graveside service that will take place on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm.
Diana worked as a stay at home mom and eventually ran daddy’s business, Battle Creek TV & Stereo. In addition, from 1980 until 2016, Diana was very successful with breeding, raising, and showing Chow Chows and Pekingese Dogs. During that time, Diana did a great deal of mentoring in her art with dogs. During her career, she brought more than 55 dogs to AKC Championship status, even having her champion Chow Chow, Sandman, in the Westminster Dog Show.
Diana is survived by her daughters, Paula J. (Douglas Richard) Rasey and Teri L. (David Jeffery) Jones and the light of her life, granddaughter, Danica “Sissy” Lynn Rasey. She is preceded in death by her husband, JW Smothers; her parents; brothers, David Daniel Wilson, Howard Theodore Barnes, Alvin Eugene Barnes, Robert Elliott Wilson, Wendell Wilson, Jr., Ivan Arthur Wilson and sister, Arlene Lee Wilson.
During her 85 years, Diana held firm in her faith and is now walking in Heaven’s streets of gold.
In accordance with Diana’s wishes, cremation has taken place and she will be interred next to her husband at a graveside service that will take place on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm.