A funeral service for Donald Smith will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 in the Plainview Mennonite Church. A viewing and visitation at the church will be on Friday, December 15th in the evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
My loving husband, Donald Smith was born to Dan and Alice (Unruh) Smith on June 15, 1928 in Fairview, OK. He peacefully fell asleep in the early morning hours on December 10, 2023 at the age of 95.
He spent part of his early childhood in Copeland, Kansas and would often talk about the dust bowl years. His family moved back to the Ringwood, Oklahoma area where he received his education.
At the age of 15, he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized on April 27,1944, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Minister David Koehn. He remained faithful to the end.
Don found his life’s companion in me, LaVera Schmidt. We were married September 30, 1951, enjoying over 72 precious years together and to our union were born two sons. In 1965, we added a daughter to our home by adoption. He was a lover of small children, and his eyes would always light up when they were present.
Dad lived his Christian life in a quiet way. Morning devotions were important to him. Attending church services was never a question. He found his place of service in the Church as an usher for many years.
Dad provided well for his family, working at various occupations in his younger years. In 1968, we bought a small farm west of Chickasha. He enjoyed farming and ranching but he found a special interest in custom harvesting following the wheat harvest up to Nebraska and going to Mississippi for soybean harvest. Lasting friendships were formed and many memories were made during these times. Dad was a particular man, keeping the farm and shop neat and clean. He taught us the value of hard work.
In January of 2017, we moved to Corn Heritage Village in Corn, Oklahoma. Here his gentle sense of humor won him a special place in the hearts of those who so graciously took care of him.
His survivors include his wife, LaVera of Corn, Oklahoma; Children: Gerald and Joyce of Verden, Oklahoma; Stan and Darla, of Prairie, Mississippi; LaDonna of Corn, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one sister, Fern Koehn of Castle Rock, Colorado; sisters-in-law, Mavis Smith, Yvonne Schmidt, Dorothy Schmidt; brothers-in-law, Wayne Schmidt and his wife Winona, and Willis Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, a brother, three sisters, two sisters-in-law, and five brothers-in-law.
Interment will be in the Plainview Mennonite Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.