Ellen I. O’Connor Smith, 79, of Waterloo, died at Country View Care Facility on Thursday, November 17, 2011 of natural causes.

Ellen Ines O’Connor was born on June 13, 1932 in Waterloo, the daughter of Paul and Ines Bagenstos O'Connor. She first married Dale Tupy; they were later divorced. On July 3, 1958, she married David L. Smith and they were later divorced.

Ellen graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Waterloo in 1950. She was first employed in the offices at Rath Packing Company. Later as a bookkeeper at Stanley Home Products Office, Waterloo Postal Employees Credit Union, John Deere Community Credit Union, Manager of Allen Hospital Credit Union and retired as a bookkeeper for Tri-County Head Start. After retirement, Ellen was a Senior Companion at Friendship Village.

She is survived by her sons: Randy A. Smith of Pahoa, Hawaii, David Smith and his wife Susan of Spokane, Washington, and Larry Smith and his wife Mary of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; daughters: Janet Reimer and her husband Dennis of Cedar Falls,  and Carolyn Murphy of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sister Charlotte (Harlan) Witry of Waterloo; and brother Maurice O’Connor and his wife Dida of Casselberry, Florida.

Ellen is preceded in death by her parents, sister Phyllis Stebritz and brother Dennis O'Connor.