Harold F. (Cotton) Smith, Jr.

A lifelong Kansas City resident, Cotton attended Westwood View Elementary School and Shawnee Mission High School. He attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., where he met his future bride, Sonya Carlson. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas.

He was Presiding Chieftain (Chieftain Spirit Fire) of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, an honor Scouting leadership organization. He was the creator of the Tribe’s First Coups Ceremony, the Dog Soldiers Clan, “The Inner Circle” magazine, and was one of the creators of the Spirit Trail at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation.

Cotton was a partner and creative director of the award-winning advertising agency, Smith & Yehle. Among Cotton’s advertising and marketing awards were several CLIOs, one of the advertising industry’s highest honors.

A past president of the Western Writers of America, Cotton’s books garnered a Spur Award and the WWA Branding Iron Award. He has published 19 western novels and co-wrote three western story anthologies. He is also author of Trail to Eagle, a history of the early decades of Boy Scouting in Kansas City; and Tribesmen Arise!, the history of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

He was co-creator of First Light, an original musical written for the first televising of the Country Club Plaza Christmas Lighting Ceremony.

An Eagle Scout, Cotton also was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award, an honor given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.

A Western historian and horseman, Cotton was a longtime member and past president of the Saddle & Sirloin Club. For many years, he participated in the annual Desert Caballeros trail drive, covering a hundred miles through the Arizona mountains over the course of a week each year. His many trail rides also included a reenactment longhorn cattle drive into Dodge City.

He coached 3&2 baseball and YMCA football for many years, helping instill character and sportsmanship in the young men who played for him. His teams were scrappy and hard-working, embodying Cotton’s personality and temperament.

Cotton and his loving wife and best friend, Sonya, have a close-knit family: son Scott and his wife Cynthia of Lawrence, Kan.; daughter Laura Faulkner and husband Owen, grandson Gus and granddaughter Jesse of Bucyrus, Kan.; daughter Stephanie Kissick and husband Rob, granddaughters Katie and Maggie and grandson Bobby of Leawood, Kan. His five grandchildren will miss their Poppy very much.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harold F. Smith, Sr. and Margaret Smith, and a sister, Shirley Smith.

He treasured his wife, Sonya, who rode beside him on the trail of life and made it good. His love for his family knew no bounds. He was passionate about life, Scouting and the Jayhawks. He loved a good cigar and a sound horse. He was a steadfast friend and mentor. Cotton’s spirit lit a fire that will live eternally in those who knew him. He will be missed forever.

Visitation Thursday, August 13, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at McGilley Memorial Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Funeral service Friday, August 14, at 1:00 pm at the Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kan., 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kan.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation in Cotton’s name be made to the Heart of America Boy Scout Council or the Tribe of Mic-O-Say Endowment for the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. (www.hoac-bsa.org)

Condolences maybe left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com