(Photo)

Wayne "Smitty" Ralph Smith age 78 of Blair died June 17, 2016 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Funeral services will be held Wednesday June 22, 2016 at 10:30AM at Country Bible Church in Blair with graveside services following in the Blair Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday June 21 at Country Bible Church with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00PM.

Wayne "Smitty" Ralph Smith was born on October 1, 1937 in Fairfax, Missouri, the son of Ralph and Florence (Morhain) Smith. As a child he attended country school and later attended and graduated from Villisca High School in Villisca, Iowa. On September 8, 1957 Wayne was united in marriage to Jane Sprague at Advent Christian Church in Villisca. To this union 4 children were born; 3 sons and 1 daughter. In 1959 the couple moved to Omaha where Smitty ran a milk route and later worked at several service stations, until operating his own station. The family moved to Blair in 1971 and Smitty continued to work in Omaha until 1981 when he sold his business in Omaha and opened Smitty's 66 in Blair. In the mid 1990's he moved the business to its current location on Iowa Street which son David now owns and operates. Smitty retired in the early 2000's from the business, but continued to work into early 2016 delivering parts for CARQUEST in Blair.

Smitty was actively involved at Country Bible Church, doing everything from mission trips to plowing snow in the wintertime. He enjoyed writing including several poems and a book of his life he published himself. He enjoyed many years of playing and coaching fast pitch softball, including a few years with his sons. He also enjoyed doing outside work, gardening, growing flowers, and tinkering in his shop.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 58 years Jane Smith of Blair, Children; Robert (Denise) Smith of Blair, Michael (Lisa) Smith of Yutan, David Smith of Blair, son in law Joseph Stehno of Omaha, special friend Jill Barnes and her son, 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 7 sisters, 1 brother, and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Carole Stehno, and 2 brothers.

Memorials may be directed to Country Bible Church in Blair.

#2 Funeral Leaflet

One of the many poems written by Wayne—

One thing that puzzles me,
Why did God create the fly?
I’ve thought about it some,
And I can’t find a reason why.

It’s a nuisance at a picnic,
This I really hate.
It gets in the food,
And it gets on your plate.

They make a mess on your windows,
And they leave black dots on your wall.
I’m always glad to see it freeze,
And get rid of them each fall.

They would always bite the milk cows,
As I milked into the pail.
The cow would try to switch them off,
But hit me, instead, with her tail.

They must be good for something,
But I don’t see what for.
They gather outside on the porch,
And wait for you to open the door.

I guess I’ll just go on wondering,
And may never understand why.
Maybe when I get to Heaven,
I’ll find out why God made the fly.

In Loving Memory of Wayne “Smitty” Ralph Smith

Born October 1, 1937 Fairfax, Missouri ~ Entered Into Rest June 17, 2016 Omaha, Nebraska

Funeral Service 10:30 AM Wednesday, June 22, 2016 Country Bible Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Glen Hudson, John Collicott. Pianist: Judy Collicott. Vocalist: Curt Isaacson

Pallbearers: Lance Smith, Danny Smith, Paul Stehno, Mark Stehno, Matt Heller, Cody Cardin, Pat Watkins

Graveside Service: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 165227290