Lonita Rhea Hatfield

Lonita “Loni” Rhea Hatfield went to heaven on November 18, 2025.

She was born to Robert and Elsie Forbes on January 22, 1949, in Guymon, Oklahoma and was a twin. She graduated from Liberal High school in Liberal, Kansas. She spent her childhood between Guymon, Ashland and Liberal, Kansas.

She married Robert Smith, moved to Amarillo, Texas and raised two daughters.

About 25 years ago she moved to South Carolina. She worked in maintenance and belonged to several shag clubs. Through those organizations she was involved in charities and taught Carolina shag. She moved back to Kansas in 2017, she lived in Ashland and enjoyed gardening and decorating at the senior center. In 2022, she moved to Council Grove to be close to her twin. She enjoyed working in her yard and decorating the windows at the senior center.

She loved going to church, gardening, painting and jewelry making. She loved dancing and she loved teaching people about the Carolina shag dance. She loved the beach, seashells and traveling. She loved people and more importantly people loved her. Everywhere she went she made people feel special. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by family and friends who loved her very much.