Barbourville, Ky. – Mary Phyllis Smith , 74, of Lexington, Kentucky, formally of Barbourville, Kentucky, passed away September 29, 2021.  Phyllis was the daughter of Virgie Cox McGeorge and Edmus McGeorge, born to them on December 5, 1946.

Phyllis was born and raised in Pineville, Kentucky surrounded by the beautiful Appalachian mountains.  She was a graduate of Bell County High School and later went on to receive an associate degree in Medical Billing from KCTCS.  She was a Christian of the Baptist faith.  Phyllis will forever be remembered as a kind, caring, and happy person with a wonderful sense of humor.  Phyllis united in marriage to Bob "Bobbie" Payne Smith on December 22, 1967.  Phyllis lived most of her adult life in Barbourville, Kentucky, where she was a wonderful homemaker and doting mother of two children.  She enjoyed decorating her home and spending time in the kitchen.   Phyllis always made sure to have plenty of food around, including the family favorites ~ chocolate pie and chocolate dumplings, which she was careful to make just like her mother did.  In addition to homemaking, Phyllis worked outside the home for many years for the medical practice of Turner, Whitley & Morton, retiring from this practice in 2008.  In her spare time, Phyllis loved socializing with family and friends. She was always up for a card or board game and had a reputation for being the "life of the party".  Later in life, Phyllis, also lovingly known as "Nan-Nan" by her grandson Hayden, whom she had an extremely close relationship with, moved to Lexington, Kentucky to spend more time with her family.  Despite many adversities throughout her life, including a debilitating stroke and cancer, Phyllis managed to always be in good spirits with a beautiful smile on her face.

In addition to her parents, Virgie Cox McGeorge and Edmus McGeorge of Pineville, Kentucky, Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob "Bobbie" Payne Smith of Barbourville, Kentucky; brother James McGeorge of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; brothers-in-law Herman Carter of Michigan City, Indiana, Millard "Dickie" Blanton of Pineville, Kentucky, and Kenneth Hall of Pineville, Kentucky; and sisters-in-law Kathy McGeorge of London, Kentucky, and Kyong Min McGeorge of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Left behind to mourn her passing are sons Michael Shane Smith (Amy) of Frankfort, Kentucky and Brandon Clay Smith (Rain Storm) of Salvisa, Kentucky; cherished grandson Hayden Conner McGeorge Smith; siblings Beatrice Carter of Michigan City, Indiana, Harold McGeorge (Sharon) of Pineville, Kentucky, Laura Blanton of Pineville, Kentucky, Johnny McGeorge of London, Kentucky, Frances Hall of Pineville, Kentucky, and Donna Rose (Ron) of Lexington, Kentucky.  Other cherished relatives and friends: Mary Lou Lanham (Jeff) of Rio Grande, Ohio, Greg Payne (Susan) of Jacksonville, Florida, Walter Smith of Barbourville, Kentucky, Barbara Liford of Barbourville, Kentucky, Dalene Helton of Pineville, Kentucky as well as many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive Phyllis and will remember her fondly.

A remembrance visitation for family and friends will be held for Phyllis on Friday, October 8, 2021, at Hopper Funeral Home from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, our Directors, Mrs. Bonita Bingham Creech and Mr. Robin Reese, and our staff express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mary Phyllis Smith .

During the ongoing pandemic, everyone attending the visitation for Mary Phyllis Smith is strongly encouraged to wear a face mask and maintain a social distance of six feet apart.

Hopper Funeral Home, established over 100 years ago, is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Mary Phyllis Smith .