Mildred Christine "Cricket" Smith

Mildred Christine Smith “Cricket” passed away on January 21, the year of our Lord 2025 in the comfort of her home. She is survived by her son, George "Roger" Jr. (Janet) Smith, three daughters, Sherry Smith (Mary Stepnick), Lisa (Joel "Joe") Picou and Crystal (Jeff) Marks, her grandchildren, Sean and Kevin Smith, Caleb (Molly), Zach (Ali) and Tyler (Loarel) Picou, Alex (Ashley) Huffman and Olivia Marks (Ian Dzugan) and five great grandchildren, Abigail Smith, Jack and Quinn Huffman and Remington and Holten Picou. Also surviving are her loving brother-in-law, Jack (Nancy) Smith and her sisters-in-law, Vivian “Sondra” Tripp and Jean Bailey. She was preceded in death by her beloved father and mother, George Hiram “Hi” and Isabelle (Toler) Bailey, her beloved husband George Sr., her brother Roma Bailey and grandson Joshua Picou.  

Cricket was beloved by all who knew her. She was blessed with a loving heart and had a way and temperament about her that was so openly loving, caring and comforting to all who graced her presence they could not help but respond in kind. She was blessed with a good sense of humor and a fun-loving spirit that she carried with her through her last days. She would inspire gut-wrenching laughter as she would break out in song (from back in her day) during serious, competitive card games when others were intently focused on the game at hand. She posed for pictures in funny hats and clothes and enjoyed scaring others with plastic, fear-inspiring spiders. She was fun to scare (you always got paybacks for that in this family) as she would jump and scream but always took it good-naturedly--and always with a smile--feeling a sense of satisfaction at the laughter that ensued (at her expense.) She was a devoted mother and beautiful child of God who was filled with the love of Jesus and who expressed that love by walking “… in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23) 

Her love and devotion to her children and family (including the in-laws, or outlaws as they are lovingly—and humorously—called) was not lost on them. They returned her love and devotion and blessed her with spending her last days on earth in the comfort of her own home in the presence of those she loved and those who loved her. God also blessed Cricket with loving and kind hospice workers (Taylor and Tonya) and home health aids (Iris, Krista, Leah and BJ) who helped the family care for her needs. 

Cricket came from humble beginnings. She was raised in a coal mining camp during the Great Depression. Her father was a West Virginia coal miner who lost his life in a blasting accident when Cricket was just a child. She married George (who came from equally humble beginnings) at the age of 19. George joined the Air Force and, after his honorable discharge, they returned to West Virginia where he secured employment as a coal miner. George went to school and learned the electrical trade. They began upward mobility and their pursuit of the American dream when George secured a job as an electrician in New Mexico. George ultimately earned his union ticket when he helped organize workers to unionize at a mine in Utah. Cricket and George moved across the country in pursuit of work, ultimately settling in Northwestern Ohio in the late 60’s.  

Cricket worked at a grocery store and as a machinist at a stamping plant during short periods of her life with George, but her calling was to be a homemaker, by far the most important of all occupations, and she plied her trade well, tending to the needs—and wants—of her beloved husband and children, sacrificing her time and energy to lift them up and support them throughout their lives. It was this, more than anything, she missed during her last days when the tables were turned and it was she who needed the loving care and support of her family.  

Mothers are always doing for others, sacrificing of themselves. This is their nature, the very essence of their being. Although it is difficult for them to be dependent on others, they must feel blessed to see those they cared for return their love and sacrifice for their sake.  

There is truly nothing like a mother’s love. Thank you, mom. You will always have a special place in our heart. Although you will be sorely missed, we take much comfort in knowing you are in the joyous presence of Almighty God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and have been reunited with your father and mother, your husband and those loved ones who preceded you to eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. May “the circle be unbroken.”  

Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at Wise Funeral Home, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus Ohio, where services will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 commencing at 11:00 AM and burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. The family requests contributions be made to Pathways Hospice, Berea Evangelistic Church or Crawford County Council on Aging. These gifts will be accepted through the funeral home and expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on her guestbook page at www.wisefuneral.com.