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William Lester "Bill" Smith
May 19, 1928 - Feb 25, 2008
Posted by Jo Aguirre

Mercer-Adams Funeral Service
Bethany, OK
(permission granted)

William L. "Bill" Smith, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, businessman, and friend, left this earth peacefully on February 25, 2008 to enter his eternal home. His was a life well lived. 
 

Bill was born May 19, 1928 to William and Mona Smith. He was raised on a farm in Elk City before attending Panhandle State University, where he met and married the love of his life, Joyce Louise Phillips of Liberal, Kansas.  Bill completed his education at Oklahoma State University, where he graduated in 1951. After selling his interest in a Tulsa garden supply company, he moved to Oklahoma City in1959 and founded Farm & Garden Supply, now Smith Farm & Garden, at 3733 NW 10th Street, which continues to thrive as a family operation, helmed by his son, Ken Smith and grandson, Geoff Smith at the Oklahoma City location; son, Mike Smith at the Lewisville, Texas location; and son-in-law, Kris Stump at the Tulsa location. His wife Joyce worked for many years by his side, while also raising their three children, Ken, Mike and Connie Smith Stump. Bill was rightfully proud as he watched the modest business he established almost 50 years ago grow and prosper into a multi-location, multi-generational family operation. And his family all - his wife, his children and their husbands and wives and their children - are likewise grateful for the legacy he has left us of hard work combined with the very brightest of entrepreneurial spirits, so rarely found today, but which, because of him, will be carried on, not only through his children, but through all those he mentored through life, including his employees and students where he taught business courses at OSU Oklahoma City.  Bill was a great believer in giving back to the community and church. He served as a Deacon at Northwest Church of Christ since 1982, was on the Board of Directors of Will Rogers Bank for over 20 years, was past president of Westside Lions Club, past president of Oklahoma City West Association, past president of the Oklahoma City Farm Club, served on the Horticulture Advisory Board for Oklahoma State University, was a member of Oklahoma Nurseryman's Association and Oklahoma City Beautiful Association. Bill cherished his time with his family, either "chasing stripers" at his cabin at Texoma, calling turkey gobblers during the spring strut, tending his vegetable garden, cheering on his OSU Cowboys and Cowgirls, and cheering on, always, his children and their children in their sports and activities. He was an ever-present force in all our lives and will live on through us. 

He is survived by his dedicated and loving wife of 58 years, Joyce of Bethany; son, Ken and his wife Stephanie of Yukon; son, Mike and his wife Ronda of Decatur, Texas; and daughter, Connie Smith Stump and her husband Kris of Owasso, Oklahoma. He leaves behind, also, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: grandson, Geoff and Cathy Smith and their sons, Austin and Garrett of Yukon; granddaughter, Kimberly Smith Linville and Chance Linville and their son, Luke William Linville of Healdton; grandson, Jacob Stump and granddaughter, Ashley Stump, both of Owasso; and grandson, Jason Smith and granddaughter Kelsey Smith, both of Decatur, Texas. He is survived also by his brother, Ferrell (Ted) Smith and his wife Faye of Boise City, Oklahoma. 

We will honor and celebrate his life Thurs., Feb. 28, 2008, at 1:00pm at Northwest Church of Christ, 4301 NW 23rd, Oklahoma City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Lions Club Boys Ranch, Perkins, OK. .  

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