Obituary of Fred Eugene Smith

Funeral Services for Fred Eugene Smith of Wentzville, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Star Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry, MO. Rev. Roger Briggs, church pastor, will officiate with burial in Star Hope Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Donnie Kinsler, Trent Sorrell, Mike Ligon, Charles W. Smith, Will Palmer, Michael Alexander Ligon and Nicholas Smith. Mr. Smith, 87, passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 14, 2015 at Parklane Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wentzville, MO. Born April 18, 1928 in Cyrene, MO, he was the son of Charles F. and Erna Ellen Howard Smith. Fred served his country in the United States Navy from June 6, 1946 until he was honorably discharged on September 21, 1949 as a Seaman’s Apprentice. He was united in marriage on September 19, 1948 in Richmond, CA to Joan Baker. This union was blessed with five children: Shirley Ann, Fred W., Jody Ellen, Charles Scott and Ronald Dale. He worked as an Insurance Agent for Reliable Insurance, retiring in 1995. In his free time, Fred enjoyed building houses. He was a longtime member of Star Hope Baptist Church where he served as Deacon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Erna Smith; one daughter, Jody Wood, who died March 4, 2010; one former daughter-in-law, Margie Wall; two sisters: Sarah Gray and Hazel Bratzer; two brothers: William R. Smith and Elmer L. Smith; and his beloved wife of nearly 53 years, Joan Smith, who died March 11, 2001. Survivors include one daughter, Shirley Sorrell and her husband, LeRoy, of Troy, MO; and three sons: Fred W. Smith, Charles Smith, and Ronald Smith, all of St. Peters, MO. He also leaves nine grandchildren: Trent B. Sorrell and his fiance, Christine, Alicia A. Fessenden and her husband, Joe, Katherine E. Smith, Alexandra A. Palmer and her husband, Will, Nicholas B. Smith, James Michael “Mike” Ligon and his wife, Shellie, Lori L. Javaux and her husband, Jeremy, Charles W. Smith and Brandi R. Smith and her fiancé, Byron Smith; fifteen great-grandchildren; three sisters: Charlene White of Springfield, MO, Janice Pyle of St. Peters and Donna Pitzer and her husband, James, of Louisiana, MO; one former daughter-in-law, Katherine A. Smith; other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2015 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Star Hope Baptist Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.