Carol Marie Smith

Carol Marie Smith, 88, Cedar Falls, died Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at the Cedar Valley Hospice House.

Carol was born December 13, 1936, at Sartori Hospital to the late Glen H. and Margaret (Clark) Heckroth. While Carol was a Junior and cheerleader at Teachers College High School in 1954, she met Jerald “Jerry” Smith, a Senior football player at Grundy Center High School. They started dating and soon fell in love. Carol graduated from Teachers College High School in 1955, and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, with her sister for one year before returning to Cedar Falls in 1956. Although apart, Carol and Jerry remained together during her year away and were engaged shortly after her return. On September 6, 1956, Carol and Jerry married in Cedar Falls. They spent the next 69 years happily married together and were blessed with three children, Trent, Mark and Jason. Carol worked at Rod Library in acquisitions for 26 years. She loved working with all of the student assistants over the years and lovingly looked after each of them.

Carol was the kindest, most caring, devoted, understanding, tolerant, and helpful woman, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother you could imagine. She was a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ in Cedar Falls, and an extremely active volunteer for as long as her health allowed. Carol was a woman of many talents who loved all sports; supporting UNI, U of I, Iowa State and the Indiana Fever.

Carol is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Jerald; children, Trent J. Smith of San Diego, CA, Mark N. Smith of Cedar Falls and Jason Smith of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, Joshua G. (Jesse) Smith of Waterloo and Lindsie M. Smith of Cedar Falls; great-grandchildren, Adriana, Charlee and Corbin Smith of Waterloo and Kylie Jo Thomas of Cedar Falls; brother, Donald Heckroth; extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her siblings, James Clark Heckroth and JoAnn Heckroth Jansen.

The Celebration of Life for Carol and Jerry will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2026 at Dahl-VanHove-Schoof Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Jerry and Carol will be inurned together at Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Cemetery, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a future charitable donation. Please visit www.dahlfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.