Clifford "Cliff" Hance Smith

Clifford Hance Smith, age 70, of Blue Springs, MO passed away August 3rd at his home in Blue Springs. He was born in Lake Village, Arkansas to Alverine and Elizabeth Smith. He was preceded in death by his dad, Alverine.

"Cliff" spent his early years growing up in southeast Arkansas until the family moved to Raytown, MO when he was seven. He graduated from Raytown South High School in 1966. He began his working career with General Motors at their Leeds Plant before enlisting in the US Navy where he served in Memphis and San Diego. He returned to work for General Motors in the Kansas City area, and also spent 7 years with GM in Janesville, Wisconsin. After being awarded an early retirement from GM, he later worked seasonally for the IRS for another 20 years.

"Cliff" was the consummate family man. He was the rock of his family and spent most of his time with his wife Shirley, daughter Jeanna, and his parents. He was a member of High Point Baptist Church in Raytown for many years. Being a jack of all trades, you could often find Cliff in his garage tinkering on a project, fixing something broken or working on a car. He never ran out of things to do as his hobby list was quite extensive. He enjoyed deer hunting in northern MO with his dad and best friend Jack. On many occasions you could find Cliff doing what he truly loved, camping and fishing at Truman Reservoir with his family and parents. In recent years, he became an avid fly fisherman with his cousin Larry at Bennett Springs, and his brother and friends in Idaho and Montana. He also enjoyed being an active member of NRA and his gun club, unloading a few rounds at the range. Cliff truly loved his family and friends and left us way too soon.

"Cliff" is survived by Shirley, his wife of 44 years; daughter and son-in-law Jeanna and Kiley Auten all of Blue Springs, MO. Mother Elizabeth (Bell) Smith of Raytown; and brother Steve in Caldwell, Idaho. Also many other extended family members in the Kansas City area, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Services will be at Floral Hills Funeral Home. Visitation, Thursday August 9th, 1:00 P.M. and the Service at 2:00 P.M.

Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.