Lucille Meseck Smith, born on September 2, 1923, died on March 18, 2017, in D’Iberville at the age of 93.
Lucille was one of 8 children. She had 5 sisters and 3 brothers and was born and raised in Plattsburgh, New York. She was proud of her lineage of being a true “Frenchmen” as many were in upstate New York. World War II brought her to Buffalo, NY as Rosie the Riveter. While there she met the love of her life, Air Force pilot Donald R. Smith. They were married for 43 years before his passing in 1990. They traveled the world together making many friends and even more memories.
Upon his retirement, he built her dream house in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The family joke was that the longer he delayed retirement the larger the house became. He served 30 years retiring as a colonel. In that house, they truly enjoyed their time together. Lucille had family living in Roseville, California and moved there to join them in 1999. Lucille had the privilege of having good health and longevity. She was able to see 5 generations before her passing.
She had returned to the Gulf Coast 3 years ago telling her family this was home and where she wanted to spend her remaining days as a devout Catholic, an obsessed reader, and one of the kindest women we have ever seen.
She leaves behind her daughter, Julie (Walter Robert) Barnes; her grandsons, Robert Darren (Sandra) Barnes and Shawn Kirbey (Heather) Barnes; her great grandchildren, Ashley (Calvin) Herrin and DJ (Gina) Barnes, Jr.; Claire Barnes, Abbey Barnes, and Nate Barnes and three great-great grandsons, Hunter, Mason, and Bennie Herrin. She will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. at Southern Mississippi Funeral Services, 6631 Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs.
Her final resting place will be with her beloved husband in Arlington National Cemetery.
For more information, please call (228) 872-3637.
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