Obituary of John Smith

John Leon Smith, 80, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Sunday, March 1, 2009, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mr. Smith, son of the late Charles R. and Olive Downey Smith, was born September 9, 1928, in Trenton, Iowa. He was retired from the U. S. Postal Service. Mr. Smith was a member of St. Benedicts Catholic Church and was a World War II veteran having served in the U. S. Navy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and being with family and friends. On December 28, 1946, he was married to Burnis McGuire in New London, Iowa. She preceded him in death on March 24, 1997. Surviving are four daughters; Siegrid Smith Maness and her husband, Randy, and Connie Pierce, both of Doniphan, Candy Yarber and her husband, Tom, of Lowell, Iowa, and Christina Payne and her husband, Ben, of Poplar Bluff; fourteen grandchildren, Cathy Yarber, David Yarber, Siegrid Rachael Fred, Ingrid Smith, Richard Smith, Jimmy Roy Smith, Larissa Pierce, Shiela Seter, Shane Pierce, Miranda Maness Wilson, Matt Maness, Rena Payne, Asa Payne, and Sybil Payne; fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Richard Smith, one daughter, Rena Battles, one brother, Charles L. Smith, and one son-in-law, Allen Pierce. Visitation for Mr. Smith will be Wednesday, March 4, 2009, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will be Thursday morning, March 5, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with burial to follow in the Ponder Catholic Cemetery.