Betsy Wrather

Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Betsy "Beth" Wrather

SIKESTON — Betsy Michelle Smith Wrather, better known as Beth by friends and loved ones, 59, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Born on June 29, 1964, to James "Eddie Bo" Smith and Jennifer Jane Hooe in Sikeston. Beth was the eldest of two daughters. Beth enjoyed being the older sister to Sarah, as she was her fiercest protector and prime antagonist throughout their youth.

Beth attended Sikeston Public Schools from Kindergarten through High School where she made many lifelong friends. She spent many of her summers with her local family in Blodgett, Missouri, and always enjoyed visiting her maternal family's farm in Mississippi to play with, what seems like, hundreds of cousins.

Beth was an artistic DIYer that could create or recreate anything. While she was an avid painter, she always had an incredible green thumb and thrived in high-pressure situations. From custom clothing she made for her daughters to painted yard art, craft supplies were always around.

It is an understatement that Beth loved many things but her grandsons were the icing on the cake. She felt every emotion to the fullest extent and her greatest joy was seeing the reaction on the face of Brooks and Frazier (and Abbi and Jenni pre-2015) opening a present she thoughtfully picked out for them. She now leaves us with a charge to carry on her holiday-themed baskets and "dad joke" text messages.

Beth is preceded in death by her stepfather, Randall Herman Hooe, maternal grandparents Robert Louis and Patsy Ruth Cobb Householder, and paternal grandparents Chester O'Dell and Lucille Henrietta Farrenburg Smith and stepson, Christopher Mikel.

Beth is survived by her father, James "Eddie Bo" Smith and Jennifer Hooe of Sikeston; two daughters, Abbi (Justin) Lindsey and Jenni Wrather of Sikeston; two grandsons, Brooks and Frazier Lindsey of Sikeston; one sister, Sarah Smith (Allen) of Sikeston; one niece and nephew, Walker Hall and Katherine Unger of Sikeston, longtime friend and his children and grandchildren that she loved like her own, Kelly Mikel, Kel Mikel and Chelsey (Dustin) Cathey and a collection of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that were like family.

Beth did not want a traditional service so a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.