It is with great sadness that we are announcing the passing of, Maretta Stutesman-Smith.  Maretta, 71, was an amazing woman, wife, mother and grandmother. Maretta, was a friend to so many.

Maretta was born Oct. 15, 1950 to J.C. and Willadean Stutesman, in her home in Weaubleau. Maretta was a graduate of Weaubleau High School where she was a baton twirler, and Prom queen her senior year. She was a graduate of AIDEA’S School of Cosmetology in Clinton, Nevada School of Nursing, Palmer School of Writing, attended classes at Wentworth Academy and had a degree at Crowder College where she graduated in May of 1998.

After high school, Maretta married her high school sweetheart, Billy Dean Watkins, and moved to Kansas City. To this union two children were born; Shawn Dean Watkins and Shane William Watkins. Maretta, worked at Hallmark cards as an evening supervisor and obtained her beautician license while living in Kansas City. Maretta had a successful beauty shop while living in Lee’s Summit. Maretta and Bill divorced in 1978, and she moved to El Dorado Springs to be near family. Shorty after moving home to El Dorado Springs, Maretta obtained a degree in psychology and worked for Debbie Barlow in her beauty shop. After a few years she followed her dreams and opened her own beauty shop in El Dorado Springs, Crowning Glory. As Maretta raised two small boys and ran a successful business she obtained her LPN degree from the Nevada Vocational school.

Maretta was named to the 1996 Registry of Executives and Professionals. She was a charter member of the Bull Dog Booster Club, member of the Order of the Eastern Star and member of Union Hall Baptist Church.

In August 1986, she met the love her and her life, Robert Smith, at the El Dorado Springs Picnic. The following September, Maretta lost her son Shawn to a devastating car accident.  After a period of mourning, Bob took Maretta to Montana where he proposed and they were married in April. They merged their families and she became a mother to Dallas Eugene Smith and Robert James Smith.

In 2004, Maretta and Bob found their dream home and moved to the country on three acres. She closed Crowning Glory and went back to work as a home health nurse for West Central.  In 2008, Maretta  won the prestigious award  “Home Health Nurse of the Year” for the state of Missouri. After retiring Maretta was able to focus on her true love of writing. Maretta published four books and was working on her fifth book when she passed. Maretta, had fought the diagnosis of diabetes for many years and in 2019, her kidneys went into failure.  Maretta, started dialysis three times a week while waiting for a kidney transplant.

Maretta is survived by husband, Robert Smith; sons, Shane, Dallas and Bobby; grandchildren, Chloe, Lilly, Alysha, Tayler, Brooke, Harper and Austin; great-grandchildren, Colton and Paislee.

Maretta is preceded in death by her son, Shawn Dean Watkins; brother, John William Stutesman; father, J.C. Sonny Stutesman; mother, Willadean Stutesman.

If you knew Maretta you knew she loved hard. If you were her family you could always count on her always letting you know how she loved you. Maretta, had a special place in her heart for her brother, John. Maretta, stated many times how she always felt safe when he was around. Friends…she had countless. Maretta, was a genuine and true-blue friend to so many. If she ever heard of a person in need she would find a way to help. Having a house full of family and friends was Maretta’s idea of a great time. Cooking was something she perfected and you were always fed if you went to her house. To say Maretta will be missed is an understatement. You can search the world and never find another like her. Rest in Peace our beloved, Maretta, until we meet again.

Services for Maretta Stutesman-Smith were held Saturday, Feb. 5, and burial followed in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.

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