Ms. Gwendolyn Smith

Gwendolyn Dian Smith, 62, of Kansas City, Mo., died October 8, 2021. Dian, the daughter of Edwynne “Polly” Smith and George C. Smith, was born at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., on March 5, 1959. She moved with her family to Kansas City when she was a child.

She attended the Kansas City, Mo., Public School District and earned an art degree from Drake University in 1982. After college, Dian became an educator in the Kansas City Public Schools, where she was a patient and loving, if no-nonsense teacher, guiding her students in their creative expression. She retired in 2017 after a 30-year career.

The pride of Dian’s life was her daughter, Kimberly L. E. Beal-Gray. In addition to Kim (Sam), Dian is survived by her mother, Edwynne Smith; her sisters, M. Lorraine Oliver and Glenda Elaine Smith; her brother, George Anthony Smith; her niece and nephew, Alynda Wheat Savage (Dave) and Adonis Jarecki (Vanessa); her best friend and “Roomie,” Gwendola Jones-Van, and a host of family and friends.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 30, 2021, 11:00am at the Watkins Heritage Chapel.  Private Disposition. Visitation will be from 10am-11am at the chapel. Service conducted by Watkins Heritage Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.

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