Shirley L. Smith, 86, of Elkhart, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday January 7, 2017 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Wakarusa. Shirley was born in Green Twp. on February 3, 1930 to Earl F. & Rose (Bickel) Surface. On July 19, 1947, she married Ralph A. Smith in Shelbyville. Shirley was retired and had worked at Kinder Mfg. in Elkhart and also at Elkhart General Hospital. A member of Zion Missionary Church, Shirley enjoyed sewing, needlepoint & crochet; she was always encouraging to others, with a card, a note or a kind word. Shirley was preceded in death by 2 sons, Earl Smith & Ralph A. Smith Jr. and siblings, Mark, George & Donald Surface, Becky Sousley & Nicky Steele. She is survived by Ralph A. Smith, Sr., her husband of 69 years, and their children, Charles D. (Kathryn) Smith of Nappanee, Dennis E. (Fran) Smith and Keith G. (Janifer) Smith, both of Elkhart; her sister, Norma Krieg of Galesburg IL; 13 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Rev. Earl D. Smith will officiate funeral services at 4:00 Saturday January 14, 2017 in Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Hwy. Friends may call Saturday from 2-4pm at the funeral home. Private interment in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family’s preferred memorial is the “His Helping Hands” program at Zion Missionary Church, 1135 E. Hively Ave, Elkhart IN 46517. To share a remembrance of Shirley or to offer condolences to her family, please visit www.chapelhillmemorial.com.