Jack Lee Smith
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A prayer service for Jack Lee Smith, 67, Lawrence will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 14, 2014 followed by a visitation until 4 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Inurnment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date. He passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at his home.
He was born October 3, 1947 in Coffeyville, Kansas the son of Fred Odie and Lucille Irene (Evans) Smith.
He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1966 and attended the University of Kansas for one year.
Jack served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and later retired from service from the National Guard.
He was a member of the American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post #14 and was a volunteer driver for disabled vets. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing.
He was a printer at Color Press where he worked for 15 years and then worked at Treasure Chest for 25 years.
He married Candice Miller for a short time and later married Bonnie J. Kern for 21 years. He is currently married to Kathy Smith. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include three daughters, Heather Maxwell, Wendi (Mike) Miller, Emily Gillespie; stepdaughter, Lisa Burchett; 16 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister, Linda (Roger) Pringle; and sister-in-law, Sue Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Fred O. Smith, Jr.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his name to Douglas County Visiting Nurses and Hospice and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
I am one of Jack’s junior high and high school classmates between 1960 and 1966 when we shared classes and bruises on the football field. We lost track of each other after high school for a variety of reasons much like many other people who wind up having priorities many times unforeseen. My wife Jennifer and I lived in Denver for 40 years, moved back to Lawrence 18 months ago, but I’ve thought of Jack many times over the years. He once went with my family to Tonganoxie to visit my aunt and uncle. I still remember my aunt welcoming him as if she had known him as well as me. Maybe it was because of his smile and engaging personality. He was easy to get to know, to laugh, and to wisecrack. Your family is fortunate to have had him in your lives. He will always be with you.