Susan Kelly Smith, beloved daughter of Raymond E. Kelly and Christine Kelly Bodiford, passed away at her home Saturday, May 29, 2010.
She was born in Panama City and graduated from Bay High School in 1972. She completed her education at Florida State University, finishing cum laude in 1976. She was the proprietor of Kelly's Airbrush on Panama City Beach and was an accomplished songwriter and artist.
In her early life, she was an active member of Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church and later became a charter member of Grace Presbyterian Church.
She was a compassionate friend and mentor to many with a great love of nature and animals. With help from her friends and Woodlawn Methodist Church, she found many homes for pets that were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
She is survived by her husband, William E. (Wes) Smith; stepson, Evan; her parents, Christine and Frank Bodiford; sister, Trish Thompson, and her children, Kelly and Daniel; and sister, Kay Kelly, and her son, Jason.
If anyone wishes to, they may make a donation to "Grace Care" Grace Presbyterian Church, 1415 Airport Road, Panama City 32405, or the Humane Society, 1600 Bay Ave., Panama City 32405, in memory of Susan. Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.
Susan was one of the first friends I made at Cove Elementary after moving back to PC after my dad retired from the Air Force in early 1964. The Beatles were new in the states (I had known about them while stationed with my family in England 60-63) and of course were huge at the time. One of my first days at Cove at afternoon recess she was on the merry go round leading seemingly all the girls (and some boys) in singing Fab Four hits of the day. She was just beautiful. Always smiling. She had every reason to be really hung on herself, but she was always totally real. Really talented too. Her early art work in Mrs. Taylors class at Jinks blew me away as I'm sure others as well. She could sing wonderfully and played piano and guitar really well too. What I'll always remember though is the crash course in Stevie Wonders music she gave me one spring morning in 1975 while she was studying art at West Florida. Unfortunately I lost touch with her by the early 80's.
I was surprised to see my Bay High classmate, Susan, attending Chipola Junior College with me. We'd love to look over her shoulder to see what she was drawing in her sketchbook out on the picnic tables in front of the girls' dorm. Wow! What an artist she was!
I was heartbroken to discover that Susan was gone. I had lost touch with her over the years but still pictured her living on in Panama City doing her artwork & playing her music. Susan was one of the best friends I ever had. I have very good memories of her. She was my roommate in college and we went to Europe together for 3 weeks when we attended Gulf Coast. We rescued alot of animals together. I live far away now and don't get back to Panama City much since my parents passed away in 2010. Susan was a very unique person but a very good one. I will always remember her and wish I had seen her again.
Sheila Carnley (Surber)
Susan Kelly Smith, beloved daughter of Raymond E. Kelly and Christine Kelly Bodiford, passed away at her home Saturday, May 29, 2010.
She was born in Panama City and graduated from Bay High School in 1972. She completed her education at Florida State University, finishing cum laude in 1976. She was the proprietor of Kelly's Airbrush on Panama City Beach and was an accomplished songwriter and artist.
In her early life, she was an active member of Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church and later became a charter member of Grace Presbyterian Church.
She was a compassionate friend and mentor to many with a great love of nature and animals. With help from her friends and Woodlawn Methodist Church, she found many homes for pets that were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
She is survived by her husband, William E. (Wes) Smith; stepson, Evan; her parents, Christine and Frank Bodiford; sister, Trish Thompson, and her children, Kelly and Daniel; and sister, Kay Kelly, and her son, Jason.
If anyone wishes to, they may make a donation to "Grace Care" Grace Presbyterian Church, 1415 Airport Road, Panama City 32405, or the Humane Society, 1600 Bay Ave., Panama City 32405, in memory of Susan. Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.
John Randall Booher
Susan was one of the first friends I made at Cove Elementary after moving back to PC after my dad retired from the Air Force in early 1964. The Beatles were new in the states (I had known about them while stationed with my family in England 60-63) and of course were huge at the time. One of my first days at Cove at afternoon recess she was on the merry go round leading seemingly all the girls (and some boys) in singing Fab Four hits of the day. She was just beautiful. Always smiling. She had every reason to be really hung on herself, but she was always totally real. Really talented too. Her early art work in Mrs. Taylors class at Jinks blew me away as I'm sure others as well. She could sing wonderfully and played piano and guitar really well too. What I'll always remember though is the crash course in Stevie Wonders music she gave me one spring morning in 1975 while she was studying art at West Florida. Unfortunately I lost touch with her by the early 80's.
She will be missed.
Randy Booher
Bay High Class of 1972
Sarah Langston (Robinson)
I was surprised to see my Bay High classmate, Susan, attending Chipola Junior College with me. We'd love to look over her shoulder to see what she was drawing in her sketchbook out on the picnic tables in front of the girls' dorm. Wow! What an artist she was!
Deborah Elaine White (Paterson)
I was heartbroken to discover that Susan was gone. I had lost touch with her over the years but still pictured her living on in Panama City doing her artwork & playing her music. Susan was one of the best friends I ever had. I have very good memories of her. She was my roommate in college and we went to Europe together for 3 weeks when we attended Gulf Coast. We rescued alot of animals together. I live far away now and don't get back to Panama City much since my parents passed away in 2010. Susan was a very unique person but a very good one. I will always remember her and wish I had seen her again.