Hurse 'Smitty' L. Smith

Hurse “Smitty” Lando Smith, son of the late William Oscar and Johnnie Gertrude (Tipper) Smith, was born on December 23, 1912 in New Prospect, Alabama, and passed away on December 17, 2009 in the Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mtn. Grove, Missouri following a short illness. He was 96 years, 11 months and 24 days of age.
Smitty grew up in Alabama. In the late 1930’s, he dropped out of school to support his family during the depression by joining the Civilian Conservation Corp.(“CCC”). After this, he moved to Ava, Missouri and worked at Norman–Gentry Drug Store as a soda jerk. He met Albia Laneve Hunsaker in high school and they both graduated on May 19, 1939 at 8:00 PM and were married at 9:00 PM in Mansfield, Missouri. Smitty graduated high school at the age of 26 and coached basketball in the Ava School System. Three children were born to this union. After his marriage to Albia, he joined the Merchant Marines (Coast Guard) serving during World War II.
Following his military service, he was employed by Kraft Foods as a field man and later as manager in Ava, Missouri. He was transferred to the new Kraft Plant in Springfield and later to Mtn. Grove Plant and was hired as the manager there. He retired from Kraft Foods, managed the local golf course in Mtn. Grove and later managed Motels 6 and Stuckey’s Restaurants in several states. Smitty was an avid golfer and played regularly well into his 90’s.
Also, following his retirement, he and Albia were hired by the Overseas International Services Corp. to serve in several countries teaching cheese making, such as: Jordan, Egypt, Peru, Jamaica, Brazil, and Honduras.
The Smiths have made their home in Mtn. Grove and Springfield since 1960.
Smitty was saved as a young man and he and Albia were long-time members of the Ava General Baptist Church and the First General Baptist Church in Springfield. Currently they are members of the Mtn. Grove First Freewill Baptist Church. They both enjoyed attending services, leading the music and being with their many friends serving the Lord.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a son: James Brian Smith; two brothers: Kermit Roosevelt Smith and Hoyt Leon Smith; three sisters: Ruth Hilton, Lindell Norris and Bernice Buttram; and by an infant granddaughter: Elizabeth Hawkins.
He is survived by his wife of seventy years: Albia Smith; one son: Andrew William Smith and his wife, Joyce, of Springfield, Missouri; one daughter: Sandra Phelps and her husband, Morton, of Mtn. Grove; one brother: Harry Smith; one sister: Willene McCollum; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of relatives, church family and friends who will sadly miss him.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, December 27th, 2:00 PM at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Mtn. Grove.


Funeral Services:
Saturday, December 19, 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.
Visitation:
Friday, December 18, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the funeral home.
Burial:

Ava City Cemetery
Donation/Contributions:
Mtn. Grove Senior Center or Regional Hospice c/o the funeral home.