James E Smith, Sr.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2011 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. Kevin Ray officiating. Visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to the Chautauqua Restoration Fund in Shelbyville.

Mr. Smith was born on November 7, 1924 in Elwin, Illinois, the son of Bona James and Martha Catherine Askins Smith. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1942. He served in the U. S. Air Force veteran during WW II. When he returned from the service, he worked for S.H. Young in Shelbyville as a heavy equipment operator. He married Lois Maxine Welton on April 23, 1946. They moved to California in 1956, where he was a real estate broker and home builder. He retired in 1981 and they moved back to Shelbyville. He was a member of Roy Vanderpool American Legion Post #81 and Moose Lodge #1294 both of Shelbyville.

Surviving are his sons, Roger Smith and wife Donna of San Antonio, TX and James E. Smith, Jr. and wife Jean of Shelbyville; daughters, Cheryl Leigh and husband Bob of Shelbyville and Patricia Johnston of Shelbyville; sisters, Juanita Kater and husband Gordon of Shelbyville, Maurine Robinson of Shelbyville, Betty Hudson and husband Delmar of Cowden and Wanda Lou Pruitt and husband Gary of Jacksonville; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren..

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Maxine on February 24, 2007; and brother, Richard Smith.

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