Nancy Smouse

Nancy Smouse

Nancy Smouse, 89, passed away on Thursday, February 4th, at EveryStep Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, with her loving family at her side. Nancy, formally of Montour, Iowa, had resided at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown since 2016.

Born on August 8th, 1931, in Toledo, Iowa, she was the daughter of Kenneth Hiram and Margaret Theodosia (Bissell) Avery. Nancy was raised in the Montour community until her senior year when her family moved to Bayard, Iowa. She graduated from Bayard High School and later attended AIB in Des Moines.

On November 22nd, 1951, Nancy was joined in marriage to Ralph Smouse at the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines. The couple began their married life with Ralph honorably serving in the United States Navy on the USS Boxer, while Nancy remained in Des Moines to begin her secretarial career, later following her husband to San Diego, California.  Upon Ralph’s discharge from the Navy they moved to her hometown of Montour and raised their family in the area. For many years Nancy and Ralph owned Indian Town Collectables at the corner of Highway 30 and T-47. Nancy was a collector of cherished items, but loved treasured time with her family. 

Nancy is survived by her children: Julie (Ron) Metz, Jeff (Doris) Smouse and Kathy (Larry Hulse) Smouse-Hulse; Grandchildren: Christopher Metz, Amanda (Matt) Bemer, Ashley Metz (Fiancé – Zach), Andrew Miles (September) Hulse, Tayler Avery Hulse (Fiancé – Jacy), Stephanie Eich, Sara (Jason) Stevens and Jordan Wheeler; Great grandchildren: Daphne Bemer, Maximus Stevens, Madelyn Stevens, Morgan Stevens, Steven Eich, Parker Eich and Hayden Eich.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 65 years, Ralph; her brother David Avery; half-brother Val Avery, and her grandson, John Eich.

Private funeral services for Nancy will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Memorials in her memory may be directed to the Animal Rescue League in Marshalltown, as she so enjoyed her pets. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Nancy and her family.