Memorial for James T Smith Jr
Memorial:
10:00 AM Thursday, June 23rd, 2016
Church of Christ-Perry
James Thomas Smith Jr, age 79, passed from this earth into the open arms of Jesus Christ at Heavens Eastern Pearly Gates. He was in an inpatient status at St. Mary's Hospital, Enid, OK. at his time of death on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 11:15 a.m. He leaves a wife, Mary Ann Storey Smith of the home. J.T. And Mary Ann were married on January 23, 1959. Also two sons, Michael James Smith and wife Jennifer, of Quartz Hill, California, and Brian Keith Smith and wife Teri, of Palm Dale, CA. Four Grandchildren, Austin Smith and Alec Smith, and Taylor and Logan Smith. Two Brothers, John Wayne Smith, of Holdenville, OK and Bobby Smith, Tupelo, OK. Three sisters; Kathryn Eppler of Ardmore, Betty Leewright, Guthrie, and Ruth Harden, OKC.
J. T. was born March 4, 1937 in Lamar, OK to James (Jack) and Lila (Pitts) Smith. He enlisted into the Oklahoma Army National Guard as a junior in high school at Holdenville, OK under the RFA 55 Program, which 4-6 months of active duty training was optional. Smith was among many Oklahomans who enlisted under this program and he chose to take his basic/Advanced Individual training at Fort Chaffee, AR. His initial enlistment in the OKARNG was October 5, 1955 and he made it up through the ranks to First Sergeant of his unit, HHC 2/279 Inf. Smith attended State Officer Candidate School and became a 2LT and while an enlisted man, became a full time employee for the OKARNG, a civil service position. When appointed a 2LT, he became the full-time Training Officer for the 2/279 Inf, which was a member of the (Hot) 3rd Brigade out of Okmulgee, OK. On February 1, 1968, the 45th Infantry Division was reorganized and the entire staff at Holdenville was transferred to the 1/179 Infantry, Perry, OK. Smith was promoted as high as Major as the Full Time Administrative Assistant to the Battalion Commander and was selected for Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. However, there was not a position available at that time, he was serving as the Executive Officer of 1//179 Inf. He resigned his commission and retained his enlisted rank of MSG E8, at 45 Inf Bde(Sep) and later transferred to OK Mil Dept to the Recruiting Section. In every assignment he held in the OKARNG Smith received maximum results on his enlisted evaluations and officer evaluations. Normally, had the positions been available he would have made at least full colonel, 0-6. He completed a total of over 41 years years in the OKARNG, retiring on March 31, 1997 as a Major. Major Smith received a total of 24 meritorious service ribbons, including the Expert Infantry Badge. His highest award was the Meritorious Service Medal w/Oak Leave Cluster.
James Thomas and Mary Ann Smith were married for over 57 years and were soul mates, still best friends, had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When he was not working, J.T. enjoyed barbequing, fishing, hunting, mowing, camping on fishing trips with his full time national guard employees, but probably a leisure game of golf with his buddies was pretty high on his agenda. J.T. Was a prince of a man and never met a stranger and once you had him as a friend, he was your friend for life. He was loved by many but his family, wife, boys and grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Funeral celebration of life will be Thursday, June 23, at 10:00 am at the Church of Christ in Perry. Services are under direction of Palmer-Marler Funeral home. Rev. Mark Uhlman will officiate the services. Mr. Smith will be cremated and burial will be by family at Oakdale Cemetery in Crescent, OK. Funeral Services have been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home-Perry. Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.perrycares.com
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10:00 AM Thursday, June 23rd, 2016
Church of Christ-Perry
James Thomas Smith Jr, age 79, passed from this earth into the open arms of Jesus Christ at Heavens Eastern Pearly Gates. He was in an inpatient status at St. Mary's Hospital, Enid, OK. at his time of death on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 11:15 a.m. He leaves a wife, Mary Ann Storey Smith of the home. J.T. And Mary Ann were married on January 23, 1959. Also two sons, Michael James Smith and wife Jennifer, of Quartz Hill, California, and Brian Keith Smith and wife Teri, of Palm Dale, CA. Four Grandchildren, Austin Smith and Alec Smith, and Taylor and Logan Smith. Two Brothers, John Wayne Smith, of Holdenville, OK and Bobby Smith, Tupelo, OK. Three sisters; Kathryn Eppler of Ardmore, Betty Leewright, Guthrie, and Ruth Harden, OKC.
J. T. was born March 4, 1937 in Lamar, OK to James (Jack) and Lila (Pitts) Smith. He enlisted into the Oklahoma Army National Guard as a junior in high school at Holdenville, OK under the RFA 55 Program, which 4-6 months of active duty training was optional. Smith was among many Oklahomans who enlisted under this program and he chose to take his basic/Advanced Individual training at Fort Chaffee, AR. His initial enlistment in the OKARNG was October 5, 1955 and he made it up through the ranks to First Sergeant of his unit, HHC 2/279 Inf. Smith attended State Officer Candidate School and became a 2LT and while an enlisted man, became a full time employee for the OKARNG, a civil service position. When appointed a 2LT, he became the full-time Training Officer for the 2/279 Inf, which was a member of the (Hot) 3rd Brigade out of Okmulgee, OK. On February 1, 1968, the 45th Infantry Division was reorganized and the entire staff at Holdenville was transferred to the 1/179 Infantry, Perry, OK. Smith was promoted as high as Major as the Full Time Administrative Assistant to the Battalion Commander and was selected for Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. However, there was not a position available at that time, he was serving as the Executive Officer of 1//179 Inf. He resigned his commission and retained his enlisted rank of MSG E8, at 45 Inf Bde(Sep) and later transferred to OK Mil Dept to the Recruiting Section. In every assignment he held in the OKARNG Smith received maximum results on his enlisted evaluations and officer evaluations. Normally, had the positions been available he would have made at least full colonel, 0-6. He completed a total of over 41 years years in the OKARNG, retiring on March 31, 1997 as a Major. Major Smith received a total of 24 meritorious service ribbons, including the Expert Infantry Badge. His highest award was the Meritorious Service Medal w/Oak Leave Cluster.
James Thomas and Mary Ann Smith were married for over 57 years and were soul mates, still best friends, had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When he was not working, J.T. enjoyed barbequing, fishing, hunting, mowing, camping on fishing trips with his full time national guard employees, but probably a leisure game of golf with his buddies was pretty high on his agenda. J.T. Was a prince of a man and never met a stranger and once you had him as a friend, he was your friend for life. He was loved by many but his family, wife, boys and grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Funeral celebration of life will be Thursday, June 23, at 10:00 am at the Church of Christ in Perry. Services are under direction of Palmer-Marler Funeral home. Rev. Mark Uhlman will officiate the services. Mr. Smith will be cremated and burial will be by family at Oakdale Cemetery in Crescent, OK. Funeral Services have been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home-Perry. Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.perrycares.com
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