Leanne Smith’s story of faith, resilience, and serving her hometown through Smith C&K
After more than two decades working in long-term care administration, Leanne Smith found a new way to serve the community she’s always called home—this time through convenience, comfort, and connection.
She now runs Smith C&K, a cozy one-stop shop in Erick, Oklahoma, offering everything from fountain drinks to fishing worms. But Smith C&K is more than a gas station or a convenience store. When the town’s last grocery store closed, Leanne quietly stepped in, adding a small selection of milk, eggs, produce—and a lot of heart.
“I’ve lived in Erick since the third grade,” she said. “There used to be clothing stores, flower shops, two drugstores, motels, gas stations—you name it. But when I-40 came through, it routed all the traffi c around us. Things started drying up.”
The decline, she explained, wasn’t sudden. It came on slow, like a drought or a fading radio signal. “We didn’t even notice it at first, but over time, businesses just... disappeared.”
After more than 20 years managing nursing homes across western Oklahoma and Texas, she said the decision to step away came during COVID. “I burned out,” she said. It was a hard season, seeing people she cared for so isolated. She knew it was time for a change.
She took over the store in September 2021 and got to work. “We added jalapeños, onions, potatoes, eggs. Not a full grocery store, but enough to help folks get by without having to drive 20 miles to Texas or Elk.”
She said the decision wasn’t about money. “Let’s be honest— nobody’s getting rich off bell peppers and milk.”
One of her favorite things about the store, she said, is how much it still runs on trust. “If the power goes out, we write down what people take and trust them to come back and pay later. And they do.”
The store feels like a throwback to simpler times, with a twist. The nacho cheese still burns the roof of your mouth just like it should, and the burritos still come with a side of small-town conversation. There are tables available for domino games, coffee chats, or spontaneous storytelling, and plenty of locals take her up on it—especially the high schoolers who drift in for after- school snacks.
She doesn’t call herself a pillar of the community, but said, “I rely on them, and they rely on me. That’s just how it works out here.”
In addition to food, drinks, and fresh produce, Smith C&K sells gas, coffee, chocolate PayDays, energy drinks (to adults only), and the kinds of deep-fried lunch items that taste best in a paper wrapper. Breakfast is served until 9 a.m., and hot lunch is available until about 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays are catfish days.
“I still don’t know how we’d ever bring in fresh meat, but I’m open to the idea,” she said. “We’d just need the right setup.”
Her faith helps keep her grounded. “I’ve survived cancer twice. I’ve seen hard times. But I believe God puts us where we need to be. I try not to worry too much—I just do what I can today and let tomorrow work itself out.”
When she’s not at the store, Leanne spends time with her family. She has four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two sisters who live close by. Her grandson and son run the family’s working ranch, and some of the land has been in the family since before Oklahoma was a state.
“I’d love for my great-grandkids to carry it all on one day,” she said. “The ranch, the store… all of it. But I also just want them to be happy. That’s what matters.”
If you stop by Smith C&K for a biscuit sandwich or a chocolate PayDay, don’t be surprised if Leanne knows your name before you even reach the counter. And if you’re new in town, she’ll probably learn it soon enough.
Smith C&K is located at 108 East Roger Miller Blvd. in Erick, Oklahoma. They’re open seven days a week—6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
