Final Salute

Mr. Charles B. “Smitty” Smith, age 97, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at his home. Smitty was born on May 30, 1924, in Russellville, Mo., a son of Charles Burdette Sr. and Edith Marie (Cremer) Smith. He was married on November 12, 1949, at St. Stanislaus Church in Wardsville, Mo. to Doris Erma Rackers, who preceded him in death on March 4, 2018. After meeting at a 4-H dance at McClung Park in 1948, they were married for over 68 years. His family finds peace in that Smitty is reunited with his wife and soulmate. A lifelong resident of the central Missouri area, Smitty was a 1942 graduate of Russellville High School. After high school, he proudly served our country in the United States Navy Seabees during World War II until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Smitty was employed as a Lineman and later a Gang Foreman with Missouri Power and Light for 38 years until his retirement on September 7, 1984. After retirement he stayed busy working outdoors and was proud to say he was retired longer than he worked in life. Smitty was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church; a lifetime member of the American Legion, Roscoe Enloe Post 5; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Basinger/Sone Post 1003; the American Vets #108; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 2693. Smitty was a very active member of the Legion and Eagles clubs for years where he and Doris both served in a number of offices. For years, week after week on Thursdays, Doris and Smitty could be found in the Legion kitchen cutting cabbage and making slaw dressing. In addition to his untold hours of volunteerism at those organizations, upon retirement, Smitty spent each Tuesday at the VA hospital in Columbia, assisting veterans and staff. He did this for over 20 years. As most of us know, Smitty’s mind was always at work, thinking of new and better ways to make work more productive, safer and easier. To that end, his talented hands worked with his incredible brain to create many pieces of equipment for use on the Smith acreage. Not only did his forethought envision innovation, his strong hands brought them to life. Smitty was as generous with his time as he was talented, helping many, many friends and family members, extending to nieces and nephews, solve problems and save money by wiring their houses, barns, garages, etc. Not only did he help with the physical labor and lend expertise, he also was known to lend an ear when someone just needed to talk. If you wanted advice, he would offer it, but he would just listen if that’s what you needed. Anyone that knew Smitty and Doris as a couple could see the love and respect with which they held each other. Smitty liked making and doing little things for Doris to make her chores less of a task. Smitty loved to plan trips and take his family on cross-country travels. When the children were young, he converted an old school bus into the Smith Family recreational vehicle that afforded him to be able to take his children and mother-in-law to see the wonders of this nation. One of those trips saw the family venture into Mexico and one of those took them to just inside of Canada. That bus traveled through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast and through the Smoky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. In 2019 he and three sons and their respective companions took a cruise through the Panama Canal and visited several coastal locations in the region. After Doris, Smitty’s second love was anything train related, which passion came about as a child when as a very young boy he was able to ride the train from Russellville to Bagnell Dam to see construction in progress. In addition to trains, Smitty loved seeing steam engines in use which saw him and Doris go to Boonville yearly for the annual steam engine show. Survivors include: seven children, Mark Smith of Meta, Mo., Russell Smith of Richmond, Va., Ronald Smith of Jefferson City, Mo., Joseph “Randy” Smith of Jefferson City, Mo., Julie Smith of Jefferson City, Mo., Charles “Chuck” Smith (wife, Paula) of Springfield, Mo., and David Smith of Jefferson City, Mo.; kids who are like family, Larry Crocker (wife, Margye) of Bullhead City, Ariz. and their daughters, Melissa Wilkinson and Melanie Frisbie; seven grandchildren, Ashley Smith Hall and Kristy Smith of Richmond, Va., Sarah Johnson of Springfield, Mo., Hannah Jo Smith Coleman of Jefferson City, Mo., Levi Smith of Oregon, Marcus Oania of Florida, and Abraham Aaron Hall of San Francisco, Calif.; two step-grandsons, Technical Sergeant E6 Jason Suiter, US Air Force and Jordan Suiter; several great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Smitty was preceded in death by his loving wife, Doris; one son, Douglas B. Smith; three siblings, Nita Claypool and her husband Leroy, Betty Smith, and Joseph Smith. Visitation will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 4, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Catholic Church with the Reverend Jeremy Secrist officiating. Military honors will immediately follow his Mass at the church. A private interment will be held at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Wardsville, Mo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mid-Missouri Chapter, 2400 Bluff Creek Drive, Columbia, MO 65201 or the American Legion, Roscoe Enloe Post 5, 1423 Tanner Bridge Rd, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com