Nellie Marie Reed Smith, daughter of Walter and Martha (Hobson) Reed, was born on January 16, 1912, on a farm north of Shenandoah, Iowa. She passed away on Friday, April 4, 2008, at the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah at the age of 96.

At a young age, the family moved to a farm near Randolph, Iowa. Her early years were spent in the Randolph area where she attended country school at Fairview and Spring Valley. In 1931, the family moved to Shenandoah where Nellie did housework and baby sitting for many years. In 1943, she married and moved to Missouri for three months before moving back to Shenandoah. Nellie worked for McClellands store for 11 years. Following that she worked for Ed Pulley and Wally Morrell at Standard Typewriter for almost 17 years before retiring. After her so-called retirement she did more housework and cared for two children, Ann and Tommy McDonough. Then she stayed home and cared for her mother until her death. Her brother, Harold "Jake", and she later lived in the house where they helped one another. Nell was the one who kept track of remembering all the birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates of the family. She was also the one who kept track of where everyone lived. Nell never had children of her own but she loved children and they loved her. Nell was a good person who was interested in family, friends and her "children". On November 11, 1999, Nell entered Garden View where she lived to help those who needed help and company. She was a very caring person.

Preceding Nell in death were her husband James, parents; six brothers and sisters. Survivors include her sister, Gladys Covault and her husband Norman of Shenandoah, IA; one niece, Patricia Allen and her husband John of Avon Lake, OH; three nephews, James Wilson of Phoenix, AZ, David Wilson of San Diego, CA, and Dr. Marvin Belknap of Shenandoah, IA; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2008, at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah. Words of comfort were given by the Rev. Rick Sleyster. Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art" and "In The Garden". Casket bearers were Dr. Marvin Belknap, Henry Delong, Andy Henderson, Tom Henderson, Jerry Kellison, Doug McElroy and Robert Hilton. Interment was in the Farragut Cemetery. Memorials in Nellie's name are being directed to the Garden View Activities Fund or to the United Methodist Church. The Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.