Mary Ellen (Harrington) Smith was born April 3, 1936 in rural Crowder, OK, the daughter of Hugh Agib and Pearl May (Hooser) Harrington. She completed this life on Friday, October 17, 2025 in Oklahoma City at the age of 89.

Mary Ellen was one of six children – 2 brothers and 4 sisters. She grew up helping on the family farm, her dad's general store, and various other enterprises that Hugh was doing to provide for his family. During her early years she lived in Canadian, Wetumka, and eventually the Holdenville area. She graduated high school from Fairview school district, near Holdenville, in 1954.

After high school Mary Ellen moved to Oklahoma City and worked as a secretary in the legal industry while also taking college classes. One weekend, Mary Ellen and her sister Vada took a road trip to Altus, OK to visit their dad, who was busy as a carpenter building the Quartz Mountain Lodge at Lake Lugert, now known as Lake Altus.

While at a drive-in ice cream parlor in Altus, she met the handsome Arthur Smith, who was a sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Altus AFB. They were married March 17, 1956.

As a military spouse, Mary Ellen moved several times to various locations throughout Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri. All this time, Mary Ellen was setting an example for Art about what it is to be Christ-like. Her sons David and Don entered their family during these years.

When Art was deployed to Greenland, he became a Christian. This was a long awaited answer to her prayers and cause for joy. Her Christian walk then became one of a minister's wife beginning at Bear Valley School of Preaching, where in addition to working at a children's home, her daughter Dee became part of the family, thus completing the Art and Mary Ellen Smith family.

Mary Ellen served her family and the church tirelessly at various congregations in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Vermont. She taught Sunday school, ministered to the congregations, and supported Art, and raised her children. She also added financial support to the family by working in various capacities outside the home in secretarial, retail, and bookkeeping roles.

Upon Art's retirement from full-time ministry, Mary Ellen, along with Art, established and operated three successful gun and pawn businesses. Mary Ellen managed the bookkeeping and was also the resident expert on jewelry, precious coins, precious metals as well as native American memorabilia.

She eventually fully retired, and moved back to Holdenville, OK, then finally to Edmond, where she and Art enjoyed time with children and being the most wonderful "Momo" to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great nieces and nephews. She was a member at North MacArthur Church of Christ and had many friends in the congregation. She loved to read her bible, attend church, fish when possible, travel (by car), attend reunions, talk with friends and relatives. She also loved a good bargain and turned into a garage sale phenom.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Art; her parents, her infant brother Jerry Vance; her brother Bill H. Harrington and sister-in-law Marvenia Harrington, her sister Ima Jean Guinn and brother-in-law Herbert Sandy Guinn, her sister Dortha June Breedlove and brother-in-law Jim Breedlove, her nephew Kenny Breedlove; and her great grandson, Ellis Stephen Tripp. Her remaining sister Navada P. Beard, wife of Eddie D. Beard, passed from this life on October 19, two days after Mary Ellen's death.

Mary Ellen is survived by her son David Lee Smith and his wife, Karla of Broken Bow, OK; her son Don Arthur Smith and his wife Terri of Edmond, OK; her daughter, Dee Adams of Webb City, MO; her grandchildren, Krystle Smith (Zac Parks), Jensen Kapchinske (Andy), Stephanie Tripp (Allen), Sydney Smith, Tobey Viel (Trey), Jaci Smith, Dalton Roberts, Ruskin Roberts, Danika Ledford and Branson Ledford; her great grandchildren, Davis William & Gemma Marie Tripp, John Arthur (Jack) & Maren Bee Kapchinske, Archer Roy Viel, and Delton, Hayden, Landrie, Karter, & Ellie Roberts; and several nieces and nephews.