Wayne Smith

WAYNE SMITH Wayne Smith, 87, died Sunday, November 12, 2006 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2006 at the Neodesha First United Methodist Church with Reverend Kris Brinlee presiding. Family visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gable Loran Fawcett Chapel. Friends may visit the chapel beginning at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday. Wayne H. Smith was born April 21, 1919, to Minnie Hedrick and Wayne Smith, Sr. at Valeda, Kansas. He attended school in Valeda until moving to Neodesha to live with his aunt and attended Neodesha High School. At the age of 16, he began working at the W.S. Smith Grain and Feed elevator. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 195th793rd Field Artillery until September of 1943. On November 7, 1943, he married Edna Long at Independence and began working at the Ordinance Plant in Parsons until moving to Neodesha in July of 1945. Places of employment in Neodesha include the Standard Oil Refinery, City of Neodesha, and the Neodesha Housing Authority. He is a member of the Neodesha First United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Edna; son, Gary Smith and his wife Debbie; daughter, Marilyn Smith Graham and her husband, Bob; granddaughters, Erin Graham of Fredonia and Tawny Smith White and her husband, Travis of Neodesha; brother, John Thompson of Hope, Arkansas; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Neodesha First United Methodist Church, the Neodesha High School Alumni Scholarship Fund or the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Memorials may be left with the funeral home. To leave a special message for the family on line, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.