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James David's Story
James David "J.D." Smith, 71, Booneville, Ark., died Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at the age of 71. He died at home surrounded by family.
JD was born on Oct. 1, 1944. in Walnut Ridge, Ark., to James William Smith and Shirley Garrison Smith.
He is a 1961 graduate of Enid High School.
JD joined the Navy on Oct. 4, 1961, serving until February 1966.
He was married in 1967 to Kathryn McMahan; they had two daughters, Angela and Marla.
JD received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Phillips University, Enid, in 1975.
He began his career in electronics at Vance Air Force Base, then was employed at Schlumberger from 1981, until he retired in 2008. His career as an electronics engineer provided him with opportunities to work all over the world.
JD and Sheryl Faye Morris were married Sept. 3, 1976, in Enid, and purchased Sheryl's family farm near Ringwood, where they raised sheep. JD learned what it meant to be a shepherd.
During this time, they had five children: Abraham, Conan, Abigail, Rachel and Rebecca.
In 1986, they moved to Arkansas, where JD and his family have been members of the Greenwood Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake.
JD is survived by his wife, Sheryl; their seven children, and their 14 grandchildren; with their first great-grandchild to arrive this fall:
Angela Smith, Irving, Texas; Marla (Roger)Watts, and children: Carter (Jensynn) Watts (and soon to be first great-grandchild); Brooke (Doug) Hardgrave; Elizabeth Watts, Emma Watts, Broken Arrow; Abraham (Kim) Smith, daughters, Madison, Scarlett, Salt Lake City, UT; Conan (Stephanie) Smith, Fayetteville, Ark.; Abigail (Tristan) Myers, children: Zella, Harper, Beckett and Anna, Fayetteville, Ark.; Rachel (Cody) Loerts, son, Albaer, of Prairie Grove, Ark.; Rebecca (Noah) Hansen, daughters: Isabel, Fiona, and Naomi, Little Rock, Ark.
He is also survived by his mother, Shirley Smith, Perry; his four siblings: Benny (Linda) Smith, Perry; Bonnie (Jim) Bemis, Medina, Minn.; Kathy (Robert) Spratt, Indialantic, Fla.; Karen (Bob) King Norman.
JD is survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, with whom JD has developed a relationship due to his devotion to genealogy and family history.
He was preceded in death by his father, James W. Smith.
Service is 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2016, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8712 Horan Dr., Fort Smith, Ark. Visitation is Friday, July 15, 2016 from 6-8 p.m.
Interment (with military honors) will be at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, on Rattlesnake Road, near his home.
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