Mary Sue Smith

Mary Sue Smith was born on April 13, 1961, in Wallawalla, Washington, to Clifford and Nora Birdshead. She went to her heavenly home March 30, 2026, at the age of 64. She went to high school in Anadarko, Oklahoma, graduated from Southwestern State University in 1984, and went to work for Oklahoma Peer Review. In the spring of 1986, she married the love of her life, Justin Smith. She worked in the medical records field at Anadarko Hospital and Comanche Memorial in Lawton for eight years. In 1994, she decided to pursue a career in education. While working part-time at Anadarko Nursing Home, she graduated from University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1996. She taught at East Elementary in Anadarko until they relocated to Seminole, Texas, in the fall of 2004. She completed her Texas education licensing requirements in a year at Midland College in Midland, Texas. She taught in Denver City, Texas, from 2006 to 2011. In 2011, she moved back to be closer to her family and taught in Anadarko for the next 15 years. Her calling in life was to teach. Even in her time of sickness, she drew strength from her students, who always remained her inspiration and priority. She cherished time with friends and family. Whether it was hosting a cookout or swimming in the pool, she always made sure everyone was included. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and the love she shared with everyone around her. She was preceded in death by her mother, Nora Birdshead, brother Eddie Birdshead, and wife Penny Birdshead, and son Jonathan Smith. She was survived by husband Justin Smith, son Ricky Smith and wife Kelly Smith, daughter Tina Davis and husband John Davis, daughter Whitney Smith and fiancé Brandon Ataddlety, daughter Makayah Brooks and fiancé Justin Hernandez, father Clifford Birdshead, brother Jack Gomez, sister Debbie Pletcher, numerous grandkids, and two great-grandkids. We would like to take this time to mention persons that were more like sisters to Mary than friends: Diane Nation, Marletta Marlett, Shorna Coffey Shelly Isenberg, and Darla Stuart. Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday April 2, and 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3 at Smith Funeral Home in Anadarko. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 6th, at First Baptist Church in Anadarko. Gravesides will be at Memory Lane. Dinner will proceed at First Baptist Church.

Mary Sue Smith

April 13, 1961 - March 30, 2026

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