Greta Smedley, daughter of Peter & Della (Munyon) Green, was born on a farm in rural Phillips County, four miles northwest of Agra, Kansas, on January 25, 1915. She passed away peacefully at her home in Phillipsburg, Kansas on March 27, 2015 at the age of 100.

From a very young age, Greta was fascinated with "school". Her grandmother lived across the road from the schoolhouse and she yearned to go across the road to play with the kids at school. She begged to go for several years and they finally let her go in and visit when she was about four years old. That's where she got her desire to be a teacher.

She only attended country school for a short time before going to "town school" in Agra. A highlight of her school years was winning the County Spelling Contest. Because she had to do the farm chores, she was unable to attend the State Contest; however, she vividly recalls the day her prize arrived – it was a brand new Dictionary and she kept it proudly until her death.

During her final year of high school she began training to become a teacher. She took a Normal Training Course and passed the State test which qualified her to teach in country schools the following year after graduation. Greta graduated from Agra High School in 1932. As requirements changed for teachers, she attended college at Fort Hays State to become accredited.

Greta's teaching career would span until the 1980s. In addition to teaching in country schools, she taught one year in Quinter and two years in Hill City before she began teaching 1st grade in the Phillipsburg school system for 23 years – starting in 1960 and retiring in 1983.

On August 29, 1944 she married Elvin Earl Smedley in Belleville, Kansas. The couple celebrated 41 years of marriage before his death on November 29, 1985.

Greta was able to touch many children's lives during her career, as well as many parents and other teachers along the way. She loved teaching and was a source of wisdom and encouragement to all those entrusted to her care.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elvin; a brother, Dallas Green; and two sisters, Doris Zikorus and Keva Green.

Survivors include her nephew, Peter Zikorus & wife, Pat, of Columbia, CT; close friends & neighbors, Pat Allen & wife, Sherry, of Phillipsburg, KS; as well as a lifetime of former students and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31st in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillispburg, with Pastors Dave Pugh and Randy Garner officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mrs. Smedley will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday evening all at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the C.E.F. at Phillipsburg Wesleyan Church.