On December 17, 2023, Lois Jean Kiefer Smith, 90, of Rocky Ford, CO, peacefully passed away from cancer at Fowler Nursing Home. Late that afternoon, the skies ushered her into heaven to be with her dearly departed family whom she was ready to be reunited with. She was a kind and thoughtful soul and very devoted to family. She had a determined will and sharp mind that allowed her to revisit cherished memories and remarkably maintain the goings on in the Rocky Ford community until the very end. She will be deeply missed and remembered by the many lives she touched.

Lois, the third of four daughters, was born on April 3, 1933, to Leslie and Grace Kiefer on the Kiefer family farm on Patterson Valley Road in Rocky Ford. She and her sisters enjoyed an unbreakable bond. One of her favorite childhood memories was when her oldest sister Charlotte sat on Lois in her snowsuit and her sister Shirley pulled her as a sled in the snow. Lois happily went along with it and would retell the memory with a smile. Her earliest jobs, which she held down while in school, included gathering corn cobs for the woodburning kitchen stove, feeding chickens, and gathering eggs. Later in high school, she was Worthy Advisor in the local Assembly (the highest office in an Assembly) of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a Masonic youth service organization that teaches leadership training through community service, and also held a state office. In 1951, she graduated from Rocky Ford High School after spending her junior year as a cheerleader and enjoying a close friendship with a group of girlfriends who called themselves the 'Lulla Belles'. She went on to attend the University of Colorado majoring in Education to become a high school English teacher, and where she joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After a semester, she returned to Rocky Ford and married the love of her life, Gene Smith of Manzanola, CO, on July 20, 1952. Lois joined Gene when she could during his Army Boot Camp and then leadership training in Kansas, before he was deployed to Germany. She returned to the Kiefer farm while he was in Germany. Upon Gene's discharge from the Army, they began their farming together near Vroman and eventually Gene farmed with Lois' father, buying the Ross farm adjacent to the Kiefer farm. Lois managed all the farm bookkeeping as well as other farm duties such as raising chickens for eggs and food, growing a garden, canning, and preserving what she raised, while maintaining a loving home. She was active in the Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal, non-profit charitable service organization (a Masonic appendant body). She was elected and served as Secretary Treasurer for the Patterson Valley Water Co. for over 30 years, even after she and Gene retired from farm life and moved to Rocky Ford. She was a fabulous cook and baker. She loved to read and enjoyed knitting and crocheting, often wearing out her sewing machine from all the sewing and mending. After her children were grown, Lois took a painting class from her Aunt Lenore Bair of La Junta and discovered her artistic skill in oil painting landscapes.

Lois is survived by children Mike Smith (Darcey) of Monument, CO, Sherri Smith, of Rocky Ford, CO, grandchildren Justin Smith, Greg Smith (Mikayla), Kiefer Butler, Piper Smith, great grandchildren Evan and Kylie McWhorter, sister Sharon Crist (Ray) of Pleasant Hill, CA, nieces Susan Rae (Steve) of Santa Fe, NM, Laurie Balestrieri (Todd) of Rescue, CA, Kathy Crist (Mathew Bennett) of Walnut Creek, CA, nephews, Brian Fowles of Albuquerque, NM, and Steve Fowles of Idaho, and many loving great nieces and nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years Gene, who died in 2012, infant daughter Sheila Renee, son Kevin Smith, granddaughter Callie Smith, parents Leslie and Grace, sisters Shirley Conroy (Winslow), Charlotte Fowles (Howard), nephew Rod Fowles, great nephew Michael Rae.