Aaron Jeffry Smith

Aaron Jeffry Smith, 32, of Denton, Nebraska, died Friday, November 19, 2010, the result of a traffic accident on I-80 near Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. Aaron was born July 28, 1978, in Kearney, Nebraska to Timothy Lee and Lucinda Lee (Veal) Smith. He attended school at Overton, Nebraska and graduated from Overton High School with the class of 1997. While in high school, Aaron was involved in football, basketball, golf and played Legion Baseball. He then went on to attend Hastings College where he played football on scholarship. While in Hastings he met the love of his life, Billie Jo Beck. The couple was married September 24, 2005, at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Aaron and Billie Jo were blessed with two sons; Barrett Fischer and Beckett Cooper. The boys and Billie Jo were Aaron’s world. While Aaron was attending college he worked at Murphy’s Wagon Wheel in Hastings. In 2002, he moved to Lincoln where he worked construction. In the fall of 2002, Aaron joined the Nebraska Army National Guard and in the Spring of 2003, went to Basic Training in Fort Benning, and then to A.I.T. at Fort Gordon in Georgia. He trained in communications and served with the Lincoln Cavalry Headquarters Headquarters Troop. He was deployed to Iraq in October of 2005, where he was stationed at Anaconda Air Force Base until returning to the United States in June of 2007. Sgt. Smith was honorably discharged in August of 2009. Sgt. Smith was honored by being selected and embedded with the elite position as a member of Joint Task Force Jade Phoenix, during his tour in Iraq. Upon his return to the states, Aaron attended school at Southeast Community College in Lincoln to become a mechanic in the motorsport field. He worked for Herbie & Brenda Reed at Flameout in Pleasant Dale, Nebraska and the Star City Motorsports in Lincoln, Nebraska. At the time of his death Aaron was working as a line foreman in maintenance at Novartis Pharmaceutical Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. The family made their home in Denton, Nebraska. Aaron loved to hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, shoot archery, and cheer on his Nebraska Cornhuskers and Detroit Lions. His world revolved around his family and friends. He loved them, and was loved in return, and he will never, ever be forgotten. Aaron leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife: Billie Jo and their sons, 22 month old Barrett Fischer and 3 month old, Beckett Cooper. His parents: Tim and Suzanne Smith of Overton, Nebraska Cindy Veal of Kearney, Nebraska One sister: Chele Smith and 7 y/o niece, Mackenzie Leigh Smith of Lincoln, Nebraska Parents-In-law: Delwin and Bobbie Beck of Litchfield, Nebraska One sister-in-law: Nicki and Gary Bohl of Litchfield, Nebraska Two brothers-in-law: Wayne and Jennifer Beck of Papillion, Nebraska Jonathan and Keri Beck, nieces, 4 y/o Alyx Jo & 10 month old Riley Nicole all of Shelton, Nebraska Grandparents: Lyle and Lyllis Veal of Kearney, Nebraska and Leland Reimann of Ogallala, Nebraska Godparents: Terry and Pat Smith of Bennington, Nebraska and Jim Veal of Knobnoster, Missouri Aaron is also survived by many cousins, aunts, uncles, other relatives and many, many friends. Aaron was preceded in death by his grandparents; Woodrow and Gladys Smith and Karla Reimann Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney, Nebraska with Reverend Matt Koperski officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Overton Cemetery in Overton, Nebraska. Visitation will be held Monday, November 22, 2010, from 5-8 p.m. at the Overton Funeral Home in Overton, Nebraska. Please designate Memorials to Aaron and Billie Jo’s sons for their future education or the Donor’s Choice. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be in charge of arrangements. Online condolences and personal notes to the family may be sent to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.