Frances "Dianne" Smith

Frances “Dianne” Smith, 59, of Clayton, Indiana, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on December 13, 1966, in Natchez, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Prentiss Wayne Mathis and Cynthia Frances Lambert.

Dianne devoted her life to caring for her family and building a home filled with warmth, humor, and unwavering love. A dedicated homemaker, wife, mother, and nana, she poured her heart into every role she held. She worked as a bus driver for both Wayne Township and Mill Creek School Systems, and she proudly operated DCS Trucking. She also enjoyed waitressing and bar tending on the side.

Her happiest moments were spent canning, gardening, doting on her dogs, and treating herself to getting her nails done. Above all, Dianne treasured time with her family, especially her grandchildren, who were the light of her life.

She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Kikendall Jr.; her father, Prentiss Mathis; and her brother, Prentiss Wayne Mathis Jr.

Dianne is survived by her husband, Chris Smith; her children, Michelle (Dustin) Strahl and Chris (Samantha) Kikendall; her stepchildren, Dakota (Brooklynn) Smith and Dalton (Elizabeth) Smith; her siblings, Alisa Magee, Tina Lambert, John Lambert IV, Dwayne Mathis, and Teresa Thompson; and her seven beloved grandchildren Grace, Carter, Lilly, and James Strahl; Isla and Emarie Kikendall; and Maven Smith.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Hampton‑Gentry Funeral Home, where friends and family may gather from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service at 7:00 p.m.

Her legacy lives on in the family she loved so fiercely and the countless lives she touched with her kindness, grit, and generous spirit.