She was born on August 10, 1941, in Clinton, IA, the daughter of Walter and Edith (Swift) Smither. She was a graduate of Fulton High School and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a Registered Nurse and was devoted to her nursing career for over 30 years. Mabel married Charles McSparin on September 6, 1980. She liked to read, listen to audiobooks, swim, especially in the river and the Clinton pool when she was young, traveling, growing flowers, and visiting the casino with her friend Iola. When Nintendo games first came out, she got all of her grandkids playing them, and she enjoyed playing with them. She also enjoyed telling stories to her grandchildren, encouraging them to travel and see the world. She always had baked goodies to hand out.
Survivors include her husband, Charles; daughter Michelle (Merlin) Butt; son, William Conner; stepdaughter, Kris McSparin; step sons: Glenn (Susan) McSparin and Bill (Shannon) McSparin; sister, Leslie (Robert) Merema; brother, Robert (Denise) Smither; grandchildren: Billie Jean Kershaw, William Conner Jr, Mitchel Butt, Meranda Butt; step grandchildren: Nathan McSparin, Jordan McSparin, Megan McSparin, Devin McSparin, Preston McSparin, Zach McSparin and Drew McSparin; and great grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother David Smither; grandson Michael Butt, and granddaughter Mary Jo Conner.
Private burial was at Lusk Memorial Cemetery in Albany. There will be no visitation. Arrangements entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home & Crematory in Fulton.
