Shanae Smart

Shanae was born Feb. 13, 1991, at Mercy Regional Hospital, Manhattan, the daughter of Larry D. Smart, Frankfort, and Monica G. Northcutt, Iola. She attended Kansas State University and Allen County Community College majoring in pre-school education and was truly looking forward to working with young children.

She was employed by USD No. 320, Wamego, as a paraprofessional at West Elementary, working with special needs students in grades 3-5. She was also a KSHSAA registered official for volleyball and basketball, officiating matches and games in many northeast Kansas communities, partnering with her father on most occasions.

She loved children and they loved her. In the summers she worked at Lynn's Daycare, Frankfort, and there was no child she didn’t care about. She loved life, she always had a smile on her face no matter what challenges she faced in her own life. Anyone that knew her said she had a contagious smile and didn’t know a stranger.

She loved all sports, no matter who the team was, but her true love was basketball. She dearly loved the game. She was selected honorable mention all-state in 2009, and was the first girl from Frankfort to make it to state in pole vault. She loved spending time with family and friends and working with younger children sharing her knowledge of the FFA and 4-H.

She is a member of Frankfort United Methodist Church, KSHAA, and Epilepsy Foundation.

She was preceded in death by two grandfathers, Harley Norman and Donald Northcutt.

She is survived by her parents; a sister, Mykaela Gayle Smart, Frankfort; her best friend and service dog, Trego; grandparents, Janice and Larry E. Smart, Osage City; a grandmother, Twyla Norman, Gas; three aunts and uncles; nine cousins; and a great-cousin.

She will be missed greatly by all of her family and friends. They will miss her bubbly personality, contagious smile, her love of children and most of her love of the game. She has earned her very deserving wings and she is truly God’s child. Love you much, your family and friends.