Printed in the February 25, 1937 Pilot Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

CHESTER SMITH DIES ON COAST

FORMER BLAIR RESIDENT, 53, DIED IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Chester S. Smith, 53, former Blairite, died Saturday, February 13, in a Long Beach, California hospital after a brief illness, it has been learned here. Resident of California for 17 years, he was the son of Mrs. Olive J. Smith of Blair, who has been visiting him on the west coast for several months.

Mr. Smith was born in Blair August 6, 1883, son of Mr. and Mrs. John G. Smith. He was graduated from Blair high school, after which he worked for two Omaha hardware firms. He was married October 24, 1906 to Miss Laura L. Badgerow of Blair and for two years the couple resided on a farm near Cuming City. Later they went to Wisconsin, moving to Long Beach in 1920.

In the latter city Mr. Smith had served as mail carrier for several years.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Mrs. Lillian E. Tracy, Mrs. Alice E. Mathewson and Mrs. Frances E. Smith, all of Long Beach; his mother, Mrs. Olive J. Smith of Blair; four sisters: Frances M. Smith and J. Grace Smith, both of Blair; Mrs. Luvia Cox of Farragut, Iowa, and Mrs. Edith Hawkins of Klamath Falls, Oregon; three brothers: William F. and B.B. Smith, both of Omaha, and R.O. Smith of Los Angeles; and four grandchildren, all of Long Beach.

Funeral services were held at Mattell’s mortuary in Long Beach Tuesday afternoon, February 16, the Rev. Fred F. Shields, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church of that city, officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill cemetery, Whittier, California. Six of Mr. Smith’s postal associates served as pallbearers, and 50 other postmen attended the services.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave # 131721135