MARY LOU SMOOT

Mary Lou Smoot of Bakersfield, Calif., died Nov. 19, 2015. She was born Sept. 4, 1934 in Lewis County Missouri as the fifth of six children to Karl and Mary Pearl Schork, Mary Lou graduated from Lewistown High School in 1952 and married William Richard Smoot in September of 1953. Bill and Mary Lou moved immediately to Edwards, California where he worked for the Santa Fe Railway and she worked as a switchboard operator for Pacific Telephone.

In 1958, they moved to Fresno, and Mary Lou began working for Bank of America as a PBX operator. The family, which by then included 2 children, moved to Bakersfield in 1961. After working through various positions at the bank, Mary Lou retired after 30 years of service as a Vice President of District Operations. After retirement, Bill and Mary Lou were able to travel to Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Most recently, Mary Lou enjoyed gardening, reading, embroidery, and arguing about politics.

She is survived by son Rick Smoot and his wife, Pam, and by her daughter Robin Harkleroad, as well as grandchildren Michael, Luke, and Katie Harkleroad, and Lacey (Smoot) Irish, Brandy Smoot, and Jake Smoot; and great-grandchildren; Teagan, Keiran, Peyton, Makenna, and Danielle.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Dorothy Spindler and Jenny Murphy Reid; her brothers Wayne, Dick, and Harold Schork; twin daughters Kacey and Shady; her grandson Jesse Harkleroad; and her husband Bill Smoot.

Services were held November 28, 2015 at Greenlawn Southwest Chapel. Memorials may be made to Daybreak Baptist Church, P.O. Box 78826, Bakersfield, CA 93383-8826.