Lynnetta Kay (Higgins) Smith, 75, died March 24, 2026. A graveside service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Lynnetta was born on January 27, 1951, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Though she was a fiercely independent child, her life took a meaningful turn when she met the love of her life in her early teen years. After meeting her future husband, Larry Argill Vanatta, the two began a lifelong journey together that could only be described as that of soulmates.

In their early marriage, the two led a three-piece band. Kay played the piano and sang, while Larry played bass and also sang. Together, they traveled across the United States, sharing their love of country music with all who would listen. After their touring days came to a close, they opened Argill's Music in Hendersonville, Tennessee, in the early 1980s.

After nearly a decade of successfully operating a music store in Hendersonville, the family returned home to Stillwater. There, Kay pursued and earned her associate's degree in nursing from Indian Meridian Vo-Tech. From that point forward, she dedicated her life to caring for others as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

After obtaining her LPN certification, she worked at Stillwater Medical Center. During this time, her granddaughters were born, bringing great joy to the entire family. Three years later, they returned to Tennessee to reopen Argill's Music Store.

In the mid-1990s, Argill's Music was reopened, and Kay began working as a hospice nurse, visiting patients in their homes throughout the Nashville area and caring for them in the final stages of life. She served as a traveling hospice nurse for over a decade before transitioning into a long-term care role at National Health Care (NHC), where she became a beloved nurse affectionately known as "Mama Kay." She mentored younger nurses and was a kind, genuine, and steady presence in the lives of her patients. Kay guided many patients and their families through life's final stages, offering comfort and calm during difficult times.

After a successful nursing career, Kay returned to Oklahoma to be closer to her remaining family. In the final decade of her life, she spent time in Stillwater, Pawnee, Oklahoma City, and beyond, reconnecting with family and dear friends she had been away from for many years.

Lynnetta Kay Smith was a lover of little dogs, winding country roads on sunny days, a crisp Diet Coke over ice, and, above all, the patients she so compassionately cared for.

Lynnetta is preceded in death by her mother Gladys Norma Hatch and her father Jack Kamplain; her lifetime partner and husband Larry Argill Vanatta; her sister Pam and her brother David.

She is survived by her sons Larran and Ladd; her brother James and her grandchildren Lael, Mason, Heather, Kevin, Kaelor, and Linden.