SHELBY — Mrs. Pauline P. Smith, of 1315 Wesson Road, has gone to be with her beloved Lord and Savior and reunite with loved ones that have gone on previously. She passed at Cleveland Pines Nursing Center on Monday, July 11, 2005. She was 96 years old, having been born on March 23, 1909, in Belwood. She was the youngest of 11 children, born to Henry Pickney Dixon and Alice Jane Skinner Dixon. Her parents died when she was very young, and at the age of six, her oldest brother, Ed, and his wife, Sarah Hattie Dixon raised her along with their children. Two of those children are still living, Bill Dixon of Boone and Mrs. Arnold Lail (Betty) of Shelby.

She was a graduate of Fallston High School, where she received The Oratorical Award that year. She became a resident of Shelby at 19, she married and became a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School in the Primary Department for 30 years. She was a member of the Music and Art Club in the forties and fifties. She and her first husband were former members of the Country Club (Cleveland). She was written up in Grace Hamrick's book, "Amazing Grace." She was widowed at age 44. She then went to work for many years at the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation. In later years she worked at the Cleveland County Tax Office.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, J. Alvin Propst, Fred Morgan Panther and Edwin Yates Smith. Her brothers and sisters were E.W. Dixon (Ed), Susan Champion, Rachel Wilson, Bess Wehunt, Clarence Dixon, Ophelia Wehunt, Tom Dixon, Lona Qualls, Della Brackett, an infant brother, Raymond Dixon and also a stepdaughter, Virginia Panther Ware.

She is survived by her only child, a daughter, Joan Propst Peeler and husband, Charles L. Peeler of Shelby; two grandchildren, Paula Peeler McWhirter and husband, Eddie, of Columbia, S.C., and Chuck Peeler and wife, Angela Wilkey Peeler, of Greensboro. Four great-grandchildren, who affectionately called her "Nanny" are Will Cameron McWhirter, 16, Molly Joan McWhirter, 14, Kelsey Kristen Peeler, 13, and Charles Dillon Peeler, 9. Her wonderful and dedicated family that visited her with love are, a brother-in-law, Charles Propst and wife, Frances, and Annie Ruth Propst Carpenter, and husband, Carl. Also some special friends that were caring and visited her often to give her support and encouragement are Sara Mode, two nieces, Betty Lail and Myra Strickland, Joyce Lee and Toby Hamrick.

She had four stepchildren from the Panther marriage, Horace Panther and wife, Judy, of Belwood, Virginia Panther Ware (deceased), Dorothy Panther Fitch of Belmont, and Bill Panther and wife, Pat, of Charlotte. There are nine stepgrandchildren and a number of stepgreat-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Webb Chapel of First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Tony Tench and Dr. Jeff Patterson officiating. The body will be placed in the chapel 30 minutes before the service. The final resting place will be at Kadesh United Methodist Church Cemetery in Belwood.