PITTSFIELD - Nellie Wells Smith, 103, of Murrayville and formerly of Pike County passed away Thursday, December 8, 2016, at Walker Nursing Home in Virginia.Nellie was born on October 24, 1913, in Section 9, Ross Township, Spring Lake Road in Pike County, a daughter of William Carroll and Ethel Luella Thomas Lewis. She married Estell Smith on March 12, 1938, in New London, Missouri; he preceded her in death on March 9, 2002.Nellie attended school in Pike County and graduated in 1930 from Pearl High School, the only member of her family to graduate from high school. Her dream was to become a school teacher and, upon her graduation from high school, she was awarded a scholarship to attend what then was Kirksville State Teacher's College in Kirksville, Missouri. However, because her elderly father was a widower, she felt it her duty to stay at home and keep house for him and an unmarried brother, so she was never able to attend college.Estell and Nellie farmed in the Perry and Barry areas in Pike County before retiring and moving to Milton in 1992. Nellie moved to Murrayville in September 2005 to be near her daughter. She was very proud to have lived in her own home alone past the age of 101. She was a member of Barry United Methodist Church and attended the Christian Church in Milton while living there. She also was a member of the Pike County Farm Bureau. Nellie was very interested in genealogy and had collected extensive family records dating back to 1550. She loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball, reading, flowers and gardening, and was well known for sharing her strawberries and strawberry jam with family, friends and neighbors. She often said she never gave up easily, and her life proved that. "Great Nellie," as she was known by her great-grandchildren, was loved for her stories of family history and her spunk, as well as her wonderful sense of humor.Surviving are three children, David H. Smith of San Antonio, Texas; Carolyn (Ed) VanBebber of Murrayville; and John L. (Teri) Smith of Zephyrhills, Florida; as well as a former daughter-in-law, Frances Smith of Dayton, Ohio. Surviving grandchildren are, Dave E. Smith of San Antonio, Texas; Donald E. Smith of Dayton, Ohio; Dwight E. (Julie) Smith of Janesville, Wisconsin; Derek Smith of Dallas, Texas; Dane Smith of Austin, Texas; Amy Boulware of Jasper, Texas; Brent (Gretchen) VanBebber of Murrayville; Bethany (James) Peterson of Fulton, Missouri; Breck (Adrienne) VanBebber of Jacksonville; Eric (Kim) Smith of Woodland Park, Colorado; and Heather (Aaron) Smith of Zephyrhills, Florida. Also surviving are 13 great-grandchildren. Nellie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; 10 siblings, Mary McKee, Wallace Lewis, Ella (in infancy), Edna Akers, William Conrad Lewis, Minnie Engnes, Dorothy Baughman, Phoebe Gorton, Oliver (in infancy), and an unnamed sibling in infancy; along with many nieces and nephews of whom she was very fond.Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Private interment will be at a later date at Pittsfield West Cemetery.Memorials are suggested to be made to the Walker Nursing Home Activity Fund, 530 E. Beardstown St., Virginia, IL 62691 or c/o of Niebur Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield has been entrusted with the service.