Eugene was born on July
28, 1922, in Perris, California to his parents, William and Mattie
C. Smith. He had two older sisters and three older brothers. After his
graduation he went to work full time for the California State Forestry
Department as a Foreman Fireman. In August of 1940 he married Alberta Martin in
Yuma, Arizona. He worked for the California State Forestry Department until
1966. He then worked for the Valley County Sheriff’s Office in Cascade, ID. In
August of 1983, Alberta was told she was very ill. So Eugene signed off from
the Sheriffs Office and they moved to Urbana, Missouri, where Alberta passed in
1985. After being with the Local Square Dance group, he became acquainted with
Loretta Hargis, and they were married in April of 1991 in Oklahoma. After only
a few years, Loretta passed away in June of 2005.
Eugene is preceded in death by son, Raymond Smith.
Eugene is survived by his children; Robert Smith of San Diego, CA and Linda
Zimmer of Pendleton, TX, and stepsons; Larry Hargis and wife Charlene of
Bolivar, and Kermit Hargis and wife Veda of Bolivar, and a host of
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services for Eugene, at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2019, at Butler
Funeral Home, Bolivar, Missouri, with burial to follow at Hermitage Cemetery,
in Hermitage, Missouri.