Grandma Korta

Aunt Margie's mom is being featured in a display at Margie's assisted living facility. My sister GJ wrote this tribute.

 

Frances Korta

Frances Elizabeth Smith was born on February 7, 1897 to Ross and Amy (Crusen) Smith in Cuba, IL. She was one of 7 children.

 

Frances met her future husband, Louis Korta of Peoria, IL when he came to work on a construction job in Cuba, IL. They were married 10 years later in Cuba, IL on June 14, 1922. They lived in Peoria in a home Lou had built for them.

 

Frances and Lou had three daughters, Juanita, Amy, and Margaret (Margie Lou). She later became “Grandma Korta” to 7 granddaughters and one grandson and, before her death, great-grandma of two.

Frances and Lou lived in the same home until their deaths. Lou died in 1968 and Frances died October 20, 1970. In addition to her daughters and grandchildren, she was survived by two sons-in-law, three brothers and two sisters.

 

Her home, family and church were very important to her. Scripture memorization was important to Frances–she taught her young granddaughters to “hide God’s word in their hearts.” She was a faithful letter writer and a prayer warrior–spending much time on her knees, in her closet. Frances had a gentle spirit and was dearly loved by family and friends.

 

While Frances and Lou were initially uncomfortable with their youngest daughter’s missionary call to the mountains of Virginia, Margie’s dedication to touching so many lives and reaching so many young hearts for Jesus in Dickenson County, VA became the crowning achievement of their lives.