Peggy Ellen (Martin) Smith

Peggy Ellen (Martin) Smith, 68, of Overbrook, Kansas, died Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas, surrounded by loved ones.

She was born on February 6, 1958, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Walter “Walt” Martin and Sharon Thurber.  She graduated from Lyndon High School with the class of 1976. 

On April 15, 1978, Peggy was united in marriage to Steven Smith in Overbrook, KS, at the United Methodist Church.  They recently celebrated 48 years of loving marriage with one another. Over those 48 years, they enjoyed traveling, many old-time-type festivals, and participating in many tractor pulls. She loved animals, including Highland cows and Longhorns, and children, and every person she encountered.  She had the biggest heart and a firecracker soul. 

Peggy worked as a medical coder at Lawrence General Surgery.  She loved her job and the people she worked with, and they often went on excursions together, including camping in a cabin, even in the winter. 

Peggy was a member of the Eastern Star Fidelity #38 in Carbondale, Kansas, and the American Academy of Professional Coders, serving in several positions, including President.  

She was preceded in death by her father, Walt Martin, her mom, Patricia Martin, father-in-law Virgil Smith Jr., and her mother-in-law, Ruth Smith.

She is survived by her loving husband, Steven Smith and Lola the pup of the home; a daughter, Randi Lynn Ross and her husband, Sam, of Overbrook, KS; her grandson, Francis Ross of Overbrook, KS; her mother, Sharon Thurber and her husband, Ken Ward, of Lake Stevens, WA; her sister, Julia Downs of Wichita, KS; six brothers, Alan Martin and his wife, Lucinda, of Overland Park, KS, Stuart Martin and his wife, Susan, of Omaha, NE, Danny Sowers of Gate, OK, Lloyd Sowers and his wife, Kathy, of Burlingame, KS, Alva Sowers and his wife, Donna, of Overbrook, KS, and David Sowers and his wife, Cathy, of Overbrook, KS; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Spencer and her husband, Roger, of Alta Vista, KS, and Vicki Linder and her husband, Keith, of Topeka, KS; and many many beloved nieces and nephews.

To celebrate Peggy’s life, a visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 730 Western Heights Dr, Overbrook, KS 66524.  A private family inurnment will occur at Clinton Cemetery at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be made to Dog Ranch Rescue and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524, or online at https://dogranchrescue.com/make-a-donation/ (please put Peggy Smith in the notes). Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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