James "Smitty" Smith SEPTEMBER 12, 1943 ~ APRIL 23, 2018 (AGE 74)

April 24, 2018

James “Smitty” Smith, age 74, of Meadville, died Monday, April 23, 2018, at his home.

Funeral services will be Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield with Pastor Rex Leppin officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery west of Purdin. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 25, 2018, beginning at 1:00 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening at the funeral home.

Memorials to Mt. Olive Cemetery may be left at or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628.

James Elton, son of James “Jack” and Helen (Kesler) Smith, was born September 12, 1943, in Meadville. On December 2, 2004, he married Sheila Sayre.

Smitty was a lifelong farmer.

He was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War, and a member of the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Sheila of the home; five children, Bruce Smith and wife, Cryssa of Meadville, Wendy Burton and husband, J.T. of Meadville, Bobby Grafton and wife, Melissa of Laclede, Heather Croy Billups and husband, Kreg of Brookfield, and Ashley Croy Singleton and husband, David of Hallsville; 12 grandchildren, Devin Smith and fiancé, Brett Neal, Kayla Doughty and husband, Tyler, Parker, Reece, and Julia Burton all of Meadville, Jill Allen and Seth and Tucker Billups of Brookfield, and Aidan, Allona, Dex, and Dash Singleton of Hallsville; four great-grandchildren, Alivia, Chase, Finlee, and Blakely; one niece, Sheri O'Dell Songer and husband Shawn; two great-nieces Madelyn and Elizabeth Songer; one sister, Mary Oxley and husband, Mike of Lee's Summit; and several other family members and friends.

His parents; and an infant sister, Joann Smith preceded him in death.