Melissa “Missy” Smoot of Hanover, Pennsylvania, passed away on November 24, 2025, at age 35. Her family, friends, and the wider community are grieving the loss of a devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished friend.
Melissa A. Smoot, born May 2, 1990, died at home with her family by her side on November 24, 2025, leaving behind a circle of loved ones who are now navigating life without her. Those close to her remember a woman whose warmth and steady presence shaped everyday moments into lasting memories. The official obituary posted by the funeral home notes that her passing was peaceful and that family members were with her in her final hoursKenworthy Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc..
She is survived by her husband, Brian Dale Smoot Jr., known as BJ, and by her parents, Frank L. and Lynn M. Rankin, among other relatives and friends who will carry her memory forward. In the days since her death neighbors, classmates, and colleagues have shared stories of Missy’s kindness and the small, practical ways she supported others.
The Smoot family is facing immediate uncertainties as they adjust to this sudden absence, and the community has rallied to offer practical and emotional support. A fundraiser has been established to help the family with expenses and to ease some of the financial strain that often follows an unexpected death.
Messages of condolence, shared photos, and playlists celebrating Missy’s life have circulated online, and local groups are coordinating meals and visits so the family does not have to shoulder everything alone.
Friends and neighbors remember Missy for her steady generosity, her laugh, and the way she made people feel seen. She was described as a devoted wife and a loving mother whose home was a place of welcome and warmth.
In private conversations and public tributes people emphasize her patience, her practical help, and the small acts of care that defined her relationships. Those qualities, more than any single accomplishment, are what people say they will miss most.
Plans for memorial services and ways to honor Missy’s life are being finalized by the family and the funeral home; community members are encouraged to check the funeral home listing and the family’s public pages for updates.
In the weeks ahead friends and neighbors will gather to share stories, to grieve together, and to celebrate the ordinary kindnesses that made Melissa “Missy” Smoot so beloved. If you would like to offer support or share a memory, please consult the funeral home notice or the family’s fundraiser page for the most current information