Dodge City - Phyllis J. Smith, 96, graduated from this life on September 5, 2023 at her home in Dodge City. She was born on August 11, 1927 at Dodge City, Kansas the daughter of Fred and Mabel (Medley) Shaffer.

She married Vern Gross on March 23, 1947 in Ulysses, Kansas.  She later married Don Smith on November 9, 1968 in Dodge City, he preceded her in death on March 14, 2014. Mrs. Smith loved to go hunting, fishing and working on arts and crafts projects in her spare time. She always made handmade cards for all of her family for their birthdays or any special occasions. Mrs. Smith was a very active member of the Bible Baptist Church. She loved singing, playing the organ and making baked goods for the church. Mrs. Smith and her husband worked as missionaries for several years and were the first white people to build a church on the Towac Indian Reservation in Colorado. She loved penguins. She will be missed by her dog Midnight and was preceded in death by her dog Prancer.

She was a member of the Bible Baptist Church of Dodge City.

She is survived by son Dan Gross and wife Karen of Schererville, Indiana; son Terry Gross of Miami, Oklahoma; son Steve Gross of Spearville; daughter Debbie Smith and husband Allen of Bloom; daughter Vivian Esplund of Dodge City; daughter Liz Demuth and husband Joe of Dodge City; son Dale Smith and wife Melba of Guymon, Oklahoma. She is also survived by two brothers Dee Shaffer of Modesto, California and Roger Shaffer of Atlanta, Georgia. She also leaves behind 23 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren and 36 great great grandchildren and a very special friend Lois Agee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Annie Fry, one granddaughter Rose Marie Smith and one great grandson Tyson Allen Hambleton.

Funeral service will be held at Bible Baptist Church on Monday September 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Albert Shrock presiding. Burial will follow at Bucklin Cemetery in Bucklin. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Sunday, September 10, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bible Baptist Church in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.