Eugene Allen Smith, Sr.

Eugene Allen Smith, 81, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2013, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington, after a courageous fight with lung cancer. He was born in Toronto, Kansas on December 19, 1931, to Marion Francis (Frank) and Elsie (Wooten) Smith. He was one of seven children. Gene served in the United States Army and is a veteran of the Korean War. On April 25, 1955, he married Pearl Roller in Sperry, Oklahoma, and they started their family with a son. After moving to Lexington, Nebraska, they added two daughters to their family. Gene spent his working life in the meat business; he was a butcher for a local market before working at Cornland Dressed Beef Company for 27 years. He then worked for Gibbon Packing Company before retiring from the Tyson Meat Packing Plant in Lexington. He enjoyed softball, bowling, archery, and pool. His passions included spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids, gardening and touring on his motorcycle. He loved being outdoors and spent a great deal of time fishing and hunting. Every year the whole family would gather at Johnson Lake on Free Fishing Day in May for a day of fishing, feasting, and just being together. After Pearl’s death two months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary, he married Bonnie Teel and made his home in Kearney, Nebraska. He had many gatherings and tailgate parties with an extended family that he had known for the better part of his life. Gene was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994 and with lung cancer in early 2012. Survivors include: Wife, Bonnie, of Kearney, NE; Son, Eugene (Allen) Smith of El Dorado, KS; Daughter Anita Smith of Elwood, NE; Daughter, Janet Henderson of Lexington, NE; Daughter, Pam Spiehs of Genry, AR; Grandchildren: Stacey (Nate) Loose and daughters Kyra and Riley of Madison, AL; Matthew (Shayla) Holliday and children Blake and Morgan of Grand Island, NE; Adriana Henderson (Andy Franklin) and baby of Kearney, NE; Tony Henderson of Lexington, NE; Chad (Brenda) Smith of Johnson Lake, NE; Autumn (Dustin) Johnson and daughters Reagan and Chloe of Wilcox, NE; Crystal Smith (Lance Ryan) and baby of Hastings, NE; Amy Middleton and children Tre, Marcus and Vanessa; Cory Middleton and children Madison and Jaden, partner Leah and her children Avenelle and David; Joseph (Katie) Spiehs of Lexington, NE; Amber Spiehs of Gentry, AR. Gene also had two sisters and a brother in Kansas, and many nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law in many locations. He was preceded in death by his wife Pearl, his parents, an infant sister, two brothers, a son-in-law, nieces and nephews and several brothers- and sisters-in-law. Funeral Services will be held Monday, April 29, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 28, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to Lexington Regional Health Center Hospice. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery with Military Honors at Lexington. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please forward online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.