Stella Pearl Smith, 92, of Rt. 338, Emlenton, Turkey City, Richland Twp., Clarion County, passed away at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2015 at her home.

Stella was born in Snyder Hollow near Cowansville in Armstrong County on July 22, 1922. She was the daughter of the late Henry H. Sr. and Dora Snyder McElroy.

During the war, Stella worked as a welder at the Dravo Shipyard in Pittsburgh, welding on ships to help in the war effort. She was later employed for 16 years at the Wolverine Toy Factory in Pittsburgh. In 1972, she and her husband left Pittsburgh and moved to Turkey City.

Stella was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Samuel Brown Smith, whom she married in Beaver on November 16, 1951. Mr. Smith passed away on January 23, 2015.

Stella enjoyed reading, flowers, visiting with family and was fond of all babies. Stella also enjoyed making clocks, lamps and loved yard sales.

God received another angel on July 4th when Stella became part of her family reunion in heaven.

Stella is survived by a son Harry Walter McElroy, of Ford City, three daughters Barbara Clement and her husband, John, of Springfield, IL, Bonnie Vaughn and her husband, Glenn, of Knox, and Jayne Porter of Eighty-Four.

Also surviving are five grandchildren she raised as her own, Stella affectionately called them the “children of my heart”; Sandra Allen and her husband, Bill, of Cochranton, Laura Jetter, of Knox, Lisa Watterson and her husband, Tim of Rural Valley, Karen Billa of Cleveland, OH, Samuel McElroy of Turkey City; a sister, Marie Smith, of Cowansville; a brother, Clyde Young of Coalsville; a close friend, Pat Berlin, of Turkey City. Sixteen grand children, forty-one great-grandchildren, fifty-two great-great-grandchildren also survive.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Nellie, a son, Samuel Jr., two great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, eight brothers, and five sisters.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 1 p.m Thursday with the Rev. David S. Coul, pastor of the Knox United Methodist Church, officiating.

Interment will be held in Bradys Bend Cemetery, Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County. Memorial contributions in Mrs. Smith’s name may be made to Charitable Deeds, 98 Hickory Nut Ln., Knox, PA, 16232.

For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.