1937
Marguerite
2021
Marguerite “Sugar” Smith
August 19, 1937 — February 6, 2021
Sugar Smith
Born August 19, 1937 Marguerite Beninati was given the nickname Sugar at 2 days old. Sugar grew up in Pinckneyville, IL with 2 brothers Tony and Brian Beninati. Her brothers and their wives Janie and Judy awaited her arrival into heaven. Sugar married Phillip Smith on September 2, 1961 and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage.
Her children are Heather Merlak and Holly James. Heather and her husband Paul Merlak have 3 children (Ian, John Paul and Ally), 1 daughter-in-love Macey and 1 granddaughter Margot. Holly and her husband Dr. Dennis James have two children (Morgan and Brayden). The family is completed by Fran Belt.
Sugar is the founder of the Sugarettes baton twirling group that formed in 1966. She was a baton twirler herself and was honored with the National Baton Twirling Association title of Major. She was a creative genius and brought her Christ centered priority to students. To this day, many students attribute their faith to her example.
In 1956 she began her passion of teaching high school. After a pause beginning in 1966 to raise her children, she returned to the classroom in 1987 at Pattonville High School. She taught full time until 2002 and continued as a substitute teacher until 2018. If you do the math, she spent 41 years teaching teenagers and loving it!
Sugar left a legacy for us to follow; be Christ centered, use the gifts you have been given, invest in those around you, and love unconditionally.
To attend the memorial service, it is requested that you RSVP due to limited seating. Click this link to register.
The family would like to invite you to watch the Memorial Service Live Stream, on February 20, 2021 at 3:00pm. Click this link to view.
Born August 19, 1937 Marguerite Beninati was given the nickname Sugar at 2 days old. Sugar grew up in Pinckneyville, IL with 2 brothers Tony and Brian Beninati. Her brothers and their wives Janie and Judy awaited her arrival into heaven. Sugar married Phillip Smith on September 2, 1961 and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage.
Her children are Heather Merlak and Holly James. Heather and her husband Paul Merlak have 3 children (Ian, John Paul and Ally), 1 daughter-in-love Macey and 1 granddaughter Margot. Holly and her husband Dr. Dennis James have two children (Morgan and Brayden). The family is completed by Fran Belt.
Sugar is the founder of the Sugarettes baton twirling group that formed in 1966. She was a baton twirler herself and was honored with the National Baton Twirling Association title of Major. She was a creative genius and brought her Christ centered priority to students. To this day, many students attribute their faith to her example.
In 1956 she began her passion of teaching high school. After a pause beginning in 1966 to raise her children, she returned to the classroom in 1987 at Pattonville High School. She taught full time until 2002 and continued as a substitute teacher until 2018. If you do the math, she spent 41 years teaching teenagers and loving it!
Sugar left a legacy for us to follow; be Christ centered, use the gifts you have been given, invest in those around you, and love unconditionally.
To attend the memorial service, it is requested that you RSVP due to limited seating. Click this link to register.
The family would like to invite you to watch the Memorial Service Live Stream, on February 20, 2021 at 3:00pm. Click this link to view.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marguerite “Sugar” Smith, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Starts at 3:00 am (Central time)
New Covenant Church, Chesterfield, MO
Visitation
Saturday, February 20, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00 am (Central time)
New Covenant Church, Chesterfield, MO
Guestbook
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