Drexel J. Smith

Drexel Jerome Smith, age 86, of Mountain Grove, passed away June 20, 2017. He was born December 19, 1930 in North Platte, Nebraska to Harold and Leita (Messersmith) Smith.

Drexel grew up in North Platte until he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, with his family when he was thirteen and returned to North Platte four years later. He married Ardis Jean Staples on February 1, 1948. The couple lived in North Platte until January, 2010 and then moved to Mountain Grove, MO.

He was an active member of the Wesleyan Church in North Platte and became a member of the Faith Community Church of the Nazarene after moving to Mountain Grove. He was a wonderful Christian husband and father and grandfather.

He hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman oiler in 1949. He retired as a conductor in 1992.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Smith, the children, Steven Smith of Louisville, Colorado, Vicki (Steve) Thompson of Norwood, Missouri, Andy (Kathy) Smith of Sabetha, Kansas, Doug (Mary Beth) Smith of Norman, Oklahoma, Bette (Mike) Brandewie of Corpus Christi, Texas, one sibling Blaine (Juanita) Smith of North Platte, Nebraska, fifteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Donlay and Gordon Smith, daughter, Kathy Boldt, and granddaughter, Carrie Elizabeth Smith.