Vera Gaynelle Wygal Smith
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Lord called Gaynelle, known as "Aunt Gay" by all that knew her, home Thursday, July 23, 2009, from Saline Care Nursing Home.
She was born Oct. 7, 1923, to Denver and Estella (Travis) Alexander. She attended school in Harrisburg, graduating from Harrisburg Township High School and Brown Business College; she also attended Wayne University in Detroit, Mich.
She married Daniel Fred Wygal on March 19, 1945. He died June 23, 1987, in Cunningham, Ga. She moved back to Harrisburg and married Kenneth Smith on Jan. 6, 1995. She is survived by husband, Kenneth; her sister, Norma (Harvey) Slaton; nephew, Robert J. (Miki) Pavelonis; and a niece, Melissa (Slaton) Breeden of Paducah, Ky. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was active in many civic activities, she was named Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce, and then in 1997 she and her husband were named citizen of the Year, the first joint award. She was a Kentucky Colonel. She was grand marshal in the Homecoming parade in 1993.
She was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star in the Davenport, Iowa Trinity Chapter, where she received her 50-year pin in 2000. She was a member of the First Church of God, until she joined McKinley Avenue Baptist Church to be with her husband, who was a deacon and active in the church. She was active in the Saline County Golden Circle where she helped in the fundraising for the present site. She was a charter member of the Royal Oaks Archery Club where she was active and was runner-up for the state championship.
Funeral will be at McKinley Ave Baptist Church 1 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2009, with Pastor Dr. Blaine Welker officiating and Shawn Johnson assisting. Visitation will be held at Reed Funeral Chapel 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2009, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2009, at McKinley Avenue Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McKinley Avenue Baptist Church or First Church of God building fund. Envelopes are available at Reed Funeral Chapel.
Internet condolences may be made at the Internet site www.reedfuneralchapel.com.