Betty Jane (Giddens) Smith

Betty Jane (Giddens) Smith (née Ireland), lovingly known to her family as “Maw,” passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, in Florissant, Missouri, at the age of 94. Born on June 26, 1931, in St. Louis, Missouri, Betty lived a long and full life marked by resilience, devotion to family, and a quiet, steady strength that shaped everyone who knew her.

Betty was a devoted mother to her three children: Ralph Giddens III, Kathy (Giddens) Berri, and Diana (Giddens) Shrum. She was also the proud grandmother of ten grandchildren: Andrew Giddens, Tiffany (Giddens) Schulz, Michelle (Berri) Ray, Michael Berri, Melissa (Berri) Stine, Alicia (Giddens) Woods, Leah (Giddens) Williamson, Gregory Connors, and Kyle Connors. Her love extended even further to her eleven greatgrandchildren, each of whom brought her tremendous joy. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, and a very special friend who has been there for her most of her life, Dora Maxine Fleeman Linthicum.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ralph Giddens Jr., and her second husband, Larry Smith, her grandson Brian Giddens, her siblings Ernest Ireland, Richard “Dickie” Ireland, and Agnes (McGuire) Grant, her parents Elmer Ireland and Jemima (McGuire) Ireland, her in-laws Ralph Giddens Sr and Lillian (Stark) Giddens Petrique, and Cecil and Ella Smith.

Betty worked for many years as a factory worker at Lee Rowan, Vi-Jon, Garvey Labelmatic, Sherwood Medical and Bristol Meyer. She was known for her strong work ethic, her reliability, and her ability to form lasting friendships wherever she went. Outside of work, she found joy in simple, meaningful pleasures: feeding the birds that gathered in her backyard, spending time with her beloved dogs, and cherishing every moment she could with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her heart into them with unwavering love.

A memorial service will be held at Bradford Funeral Home in Summersville, Missouri, on June 25 at 2:00 PM. Following the service, her cremated remains will be laid to rest with her first husband, Ralph Giddens Jr. at the Antioch Cemetery in Hartshorn, Missouri, on what would have been their 77th anniversary.

Betty’s life was defined by love, loyalty, and quiet strength. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured and the memories she leaves behind.

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back

or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone

or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Author: Unknown