Barbara Ann Hart (Smith/Bennett)'s Obituary
Barbara Ann Hart (Smith/Bennett), Feb. 8, 1942 - May 25, 2024, of Clearfield, UT, and a long-time resident of Hawaii passed away peacefully in her sleep with family around her. She also lived a while in Illinois. She lived a good life and loved everyone. Although many times she struggled herself, she would still collect cans and give them to the homeless so they could turn them in for money. She would give her shoes to someone if they needed them.
When Barbara's 1st husband passed when the children were little in 1968, social services advised her to put the children all up for adoption, but she refused. She made it work. She and the children moved from Arizona later when they kept insisting she give up at least the littlest, a boy. She absolutely refused.
There were times when Barbara would say she was “full” just so her children had enough to eat. When they gave her "teen angst", although, she was rightfully upset, she never stopped loving her children. She was always there.
Barbara later married Patrick Michael Hart in Hawaii where they met and lived. He was a sailor not afraid of taking on five children and a wife. He passed in 2008. Together they had two more children, Harryjohn and Catherine.
Barbara later raised one of her daughter's six children, Belinda’s, when Belinda couldn’t. Eventually, Barbara moved back to Hawai’i, thanks to the help of Mitzie (a daughter), Sharice (a granddaughter), and Sharice's hubby. She was living independently in her apartment until she was 81 years old with a daughter, Mitzie, and a son, Keith, coming weekly to help her out and visit.
Last year, her dementia became more difficult, and all worried about her getting hurt or lost. The family moved her to Utah. A son-in-law, Dennis, looked after her and took her on walks and made sure she was taken care of daily while Charlene, a daughter was working, along with a grandson Josh and his wife, Piper. Her sister Alice was even able to visit her. She constantly reminded her family to plan a trip to see her brother, Eddie. Eventually, she had to be placed in a care home for her safety.
A special thanks to all the neighbors who helped search for her and bring her home when she climbed out the windows. Thank you to all the police officers for taking the time to talk to her and remind her she was with family when she would forget who people were.
One of Barbara's favorite people was Mother Teresa, because of the example she set. Thank you to the orphans in Uganda and Kenya that prayed daily for "Grandma Hart" and spent time video chatting with her.
Thank you to a granddaughter Misty, for helping so much with care home placement.
Barbara loved the first temporary nursing home, oh so much, not what all expected! She thrived there. She loved her new permanent nursing home too. She sang, she danced, she played with big puzzles with her great-grandchildren. Misty and her sisters and brothers, and grandsons', Chris and Mitch, brought their children (mom’s great-grandchildren) to visit mom often. She was happy.
Barbara and her husband Elmer had worked horse races as cooks in their early years traveling around the USA in their trailer home. Elmer eventually bought her a beautiful home in Phoenix, Arizona by her family when they started having children. Barbara lived in Arizona, Texas, Oregon, Hawaii, California, Illinois, Idaho, and Utah.
Barbara loved people, especially family. She loved the Lord. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, knitting, playing the piano, gardening, TV game shows, cooking from scratch, singing, genealogy, and making children feel loved and important. In the mornings, she would wake her children up singing, "Oh, what a beautiful morning...."
Barbara was of a proud mixed European and American Indian descent with a beautiful golden-tanned tone to her skin. She was from the Powhatan, Cherokee, and Choctaw tribes. She brought her children to enjoy American Indian events at a local community center in Phoenix. They loved the crafts, history stories, and dancing.
On March 25, 2024, she passed away in her sleep. Her stomach wasn’t feeling well, so she went to rest and take a nap. When they went to wake her for dinner, she had passed. So, she went peacefully while sleeping.
Her family learned from her about faith in God, kindness, giving, empathy, forgiveness, and compassion.
Elmer had been waiting a very long time for her to arrive. We can hear him saying, "Well it's about time Barb!" with a big grin on his face.
May you rest in love, Mom. You will truly be missed, but your love, strength, compassion, kindness, caring, and self-sacrifice will live with us all forever.
Note: I have to add that we all learned to cook, and cook well, because of mom. Homemade bread, pies, enchiladas, tacos, spaghetti, stews, chili, cornbread….the list goes on…thank you, Mom. ❤️
Barbara is survived by one son, five daughters, a sister, a brother, 24 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, 5 step-great-grandchildren, and one step-great-great-grandchild: Keith Bennett, Belinda Bennett, T. Suzette Fahey, Charlene Coon, Mitzie Higa, Catherine Hart, Alice Morrison, and Eddie Smith. Preceding in death by her parents, two husbands, two children, a brother, and two sisters: Louis Smith, Nettie Wingo, Elmer Bennett of Phoenix, Arizona, Patrick Hart of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Charlotte Bennett, Harryjohn Hart, Kenneth Smith, Lillian Morrison, and Nettie McMurray. Funeral services will be Monday 10th of June, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1245 S. 1175 E. in Clearfield, UT.
Condolences can be sent to www.premierfuneral.com
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