Funeral services for Barbara Sue Smith, 69, of rural Otley, will be held Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 726 218th Pl., Pella, Iowa.
Following the service, a luncheon will be held for a time of visiting and fellowship. A private burial will be held for the family.
Memorials may be made to MercyOne Hospice.
Barbara Sue Rose was born August 27, 1957, in Keokuk, Iowa, to Walter and Ruth Rose. Her childhood took her to several different places, including Jefferson, Iowa, before her family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Barbara graduated from high school in 1975.
When Barbara was 15 years old, she met CJ Droz. What began as a friendship when she was young became a lifelong bond. CJ became an important father figure in Barbara’s life, and through all the years and changes that followed, he remained someone very special to her.
Caring for others came naturally to Barbara. Long before nursing became her profession, helping people was simply part of who she was. She began her career in emergency medicine, working as an EMT and paramedic. It was demanding work, but Barbara was never one to shy away from something difficult. She eventually decided to further her education and become a registered nurse, graduating from the nursing program at Indian Hills Community College in 1986.
Barbara went on to build a long career in nursing, working in Ottumwa, Iowa City, Bloomfield, Kirksville, and Des Moines. At times, she even held two full-time jobs at once, something that probably says as much about Barbara as anything could. She was hardworking, determined, fiercely independent, and seemingly capable of carrying a load that would have been too much for most people.
But more than anything, Barbara truly loved being a nurse. It wasn’t simply what she did for a living; caring for people was part of her identity. She found purpose in helping people through some of their most difficult moments, and she gave a great deal of herself to the patients and families entrusted to her care.
That same caring nature followed Barbara home. She eventually built her dream home in Eldon, and she made sure it was a place where people felt welcome. There was always room for one more person around Barbara’s table. Sometimes that meant sitting down for nothing more than a cup of coffee and a good visit. Other times it meant a house full of people and one of Barbara’s big holiday meals, complete with fried chicken or steak, pineapple upside-down cake, and plenty of food to go around. Barbara loved to host. She loved feeding people. But what she treasured most was simply having everyone together. The meal was often the excuse; the people around the table were what mattered.
Her dream home also came with plenty to keep her busy. There were horses and chickens, a large yard, and a garden. Somewhere along the way, Barbara discovered—somewhat accidentally—that she had quite a green thumb. She came to genuinely enjoy working outside, tending to her plants, mowing the yard, and caring for the place she had worked so hard to make her own.
Barbara’s greatest blessings, however, were found in her family.
She married Bill Harlow in 1975, and they made their homes in Moline and Bloomfield. They were blessed with two daughters, Jennifer and Sarah. In 1986, Barbara married Mark Smith Sr., and her family grew with the addition of Chelsea, Faith, and Mark.
Being the mother of a large family suited Barbara. She was strong and independent, and those who knew her knew that she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand her ground. She worked hard, expected a lot of herself, and possessed a determination that carried her through many seasons of life. Beneath that strength was a woman who loved her family deeply. As her children grew and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, Barbara took tremendous joy in watching the family she loved continue to grow.
During the last five years of her life, Barbara lived with Chelsea and Chris on their farm near Otley. It gave her the opportunity to be part of their everyday lives as they worked to build a dream home of their own. Barbara enjoyed watching it all come together and especially treasured simply being close to them.
Still independent to the end, Barbara maintained her own space in her RV. It was important to her to have a place that was hers—and, true to Barbara, it also meant she could still say, in her own way, “Come over to my place.” She could host a visit, share a cup of coffee, and continue doing something she had enjoyed throughout her life: making room for the people she loved.
Barbara spent a lifetime caring for others. She did it in ambulances and hospitals, in her home and around her kitchen table. She cared through hard work, good food, a listening ear, a cup of coffee, and by simply being there when someone needed her.
In the end, Barbara was able to be at home, surrounded by the very people she had spent so much of her life loving and caring.
Barbara passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family. She was 69 years old.
She will be greatly missed by her children: Jennifer (Chris) Jackson, Sarah Harlow, Chelsea (Chris) Schippers, Faith (Sean) Strothman, and Mark (Alexa Ortiz) Smith; grandchildren: Courtney, Cameren (Destiny), Jenna, Jeran, Heaven, Alexis, Claire, Keagen, and Isaac; great-grandchildren: Emma and Danny, with another great-grandchild on the way; her sister, Beth Cameron; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, former coworkers, and countless others whose lives Barbara touched through her years of caring for others.
