Maerene V. Smith, age 92, of Portage, IN, passed away in the evening of Monday, July 26, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Maerene was born on October 10,1928 in Tennessee to the late Elbert and Elector (nee Cash) Essary.  She retired from the Anderson Company as a machine operator and was a self-employed CNA.  She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.

She is survived by her three sons, Ronnie Smith, Steve (Hope) Smith, and Greg (Jennifer) Smith; five grandchildren, Alicia Reid, Stephanie (Donald) Coleman, Scott (Tonya) Smith, Keri (Pharies) Smith and Ricky Martin; seven great-grandchildren, Emma, Ethan, Marcel, Pharies, Donald Jr., Avery, and Liam; sister, Bernice Heath; numerous nieces and nephews and other loving family members and friends.

Maerene is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Browning Smith; her parents; brother, Waymond Essary, three sisters, Axlene, Maxine and Lavern.

Graveside service will be held Friday, July 30,2021 at 11:00 am at Evergreen Cemetery 3815 W. 39 ^th Ave. Hobart, Indiana. Visitation will be held Friday, July 30, 2021, at 10:00 am -11 am at Rees Funeral Home, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana 46342. To view online obituary and share condolences, please visit reesfuneralhomes.com.