Margaret Elaine "Bruce" Smith

Margaret Elaine "Bruce" Smith of Coushatta, La., passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the age of 61. Born in Hazen, Arkansas, to Bill and Gladys Bruce and raised in Hickory Plains, Ark., Margaret was married to Bro. Tom Smith, pastor of Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta on August 17, 1973. From 1989-99 they served, along with their three sons, on the island of Leyte in the Philippines as missionaries with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. One of five children, Margaret was graduated from Des Arc High School in Des Arc, Ark., in 1968. In 1988 she also received an associate's degree from the Northwest Arkansas Community College in Harrison, Ark. All who knew Margaret found her to be a quiet, gentle woman with a true servant's spirit. Helping others, whether family, friends or total strangers, brought her great joy. And, she was quick to let you know it was because of the special relationship she had with Jesus Christ, Who became her Savior and Lord while she was still a young child at the Church of the Nazarene in Hickory Plains, Ark. She is survived by her husband, Bro. Tom Smith, and three sons: John, of Fayetteville, Ark., Bill and wife, Lianne, and their three children (Jaelle, Kaedyn and Jake) of Chicago, Illinois, and Josh and wife, Danielle, of Maumelle, Ark. She is also survived by three brothers, Larry Bruce (and wife, Barbara) of Tichnor, Ark., Robert Bruce (and wife Jacquelyn) of Panama City, Fla., and Pat Bruce (and wife, Tammy) of Hickory Plains, Ark., and one sister, Mary Parker of Tichnor, Ark., as well as a host of nieces, nephews and dear friends. Visitation will be at the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta on Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service in Coushatta will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the new property of Open Door Fellowship at the corner of Esperanza Rd. and Elizabeth St. Another service will be held at the Lonoke Baptist Church in Lonoke, Ark., on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at the Hickory Plains cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of the Open Door Fellowship. The mailing address is P.O. Box 448, Coushatta, La. 71019.