Frona, my maternal grandmother, was the 11th of 12 children born to Alfred McCoy and Sarah Elizabeth Smith Link. She married Wiley W. Smith on March 15, 1923 and they had 8 children: Annabelle (b. 1924), Helen Catheline (b. 1925), Wiley W. (b. 1926), James Alfred "Jimmy" (b. 1929), Thelma Louise "Tootsie" (b. 1930), Dorothy Elizabeth "Liz"/"Tiny" (b. 1932), Billy Gene (b. 1934), and Tommy McCoy (b. and died 1936).

Grandma and Grandpa's wedding announcement was published in the 3-22-1923 edition of The Carter County News on the front page (used with permission).

"Wiley Smith and Miss Frona Link were married last Thursday evening at the home of the officiating minister Rev. M. C. Leach. The groom is a well known young man who has spent all his life in this community. The bride is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Link of this city. The young folks have many friends here who trust they will have smooth sailing on the sea of matrimony."

The oldest daughter, Aunt Annie, was only 36 years old when grandma died of cervical cancer and I know every one of her children missed her so much. I was only 7 years old when she passed away, but remember she was a very kind, thoughtful, and loving mother and grandmother. She has been greatly missed by all of us for over 60 years.

Grandma's obituary was published in the 11-3-1960 edition of The Current Local, Van Buren, Carter Co., MO on the front page (used with permission).

"News received here Saturday told of the death of Mrs. Frona Smith in St. Louis after a long illness. Frona was born and reared at Ellsinore and was a daughter of the late Alfred M. Link and wife."

She is survived by her husband, Wiley Smith; three sons, Wiley Jr., James and Billy Joe (really Gene); four daughters, Mrs. Anna Belle Fulford (Annabelle), Mrs. Helen Alcorn, Mrs. Louise Johnson and Mrs. Elizabeth Holmes, all in the St. Louis area; one brother, Elbert Link at Ellsinore; four sisters, Mrs. Rachel Morlen (Morelan) and Mrs. Myrtle Smith (really Leach) at Ellsinore, Mrs. Janie Heinz (Hines) of St. Louis, and Mrs. Zilla Robinson of Heber Springs, Ark.

Funeral was held Tuesday at the McLaughlin Funeral Home in St. Louis and interment was in the Trinity cemetery there."