Penny “Bear” Nichols Smith, daughter of Gene Raymond Nichols and Merita Lavon Hathorne, went to be with her Lord in Heaven on Jan. 22, 2015.

She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents, Clinton and Mary Ruth Hathorne. She is survived by her husband, Paul Jeffrey Smith, as well as three daughters, Amy Berger, Jade Smith and Jessica Smith.

She leaves behind her mother; two sisters, Kandy Nichols Pace and Paula Nichols; and four grandchildren, Morgan, Elijah, Mason and Mackenzie, as well as three more expected to arrive this summer.