Joseph W. Smith

Joseph “Joe” William Smith, 76, of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully under hospice care on Friday, March 11, 2016. Joe was born on March 24, 1939, in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Elden Ezekiel Smith and Alice Marie Phillips. As toddlers, he and his brother, Elden, were placed into an orphanage and Joe was eventually adopted by foster parents. He started living on a small farm with Gladys and Earl Greenwald at age 10, spending the bulk of his preteen and teenage years, outside of school, working from sunrise to sundown in the fields. In spite of this, Joe still had an enormous passion for music that would stick with him throughout his life. Among his favorites were artists like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. As a teen, he taught himself to play harmonica, saxophone, banjo, and piano by ear. The banjo he used was actually built by himself. Although he didn’t have much while living with his foster parents, his prized possessions were still his instruments and record player. In May of 1957, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He became skilled in Morse code and telegraph operations, serving at a number of locations in the country as well as in Puerto Rico and Germany. From there, Joe would decide to start pursuing his passion for education. He earned his first college degree, an Associate of Science, from John A. Logan Junior College, in Carterville, IL, in 1974. His next degree would be a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, obtained through Southern Illinois University in 1975. That same year, he became the director for Central Ozark Mental Health Services’ Substance Abuse Programs. In 1981, he published a book, Transactional Analysis (T.A.) for Foster Parents, centered on helping foster parents understand the psychology of their foster children. He would go on to earn a Master’s in Administration of Justice from the University of Central Missouri in 1987, following a nearly 10-year break from his post-graduate studies as a result of his becoming Regional Director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in 1979. In 1997, at age 58, Joe earned his Doctorate in Scriptural Psychology from Heart of America Christian College and Theological Seminary in Raytown, MO. His doctoral thesis examined the subject of religious cults and millennialism. Until his retirement, Joe worked as the director for Missouri Shield of Service, a substance abuse rehabilitation program of the Salvation Army that was located in Kansas City, MO. He always had a sharp wit and sense of humor, with a heart for offering practical advice and counsel to others. Aside from keeping up with the news, his favorite things to occupy his time with were taking walks to nearby stores and tending to the various plants on his outdoor patio. His passion for music would continue even into his later life, with his favorite being singer/guitarist José Feliciano. In 2009, Joe married the love of his life, Mary Beth Closson. Aside from spending much of their time at home, they took trips together to Colorado Springs, New Orleans, and New Jersey. They loved going to the dollar movies, eating at Gates Bar-B-Q, or swimming at their apartment pool. Most of all, they loved hearing from all of their kids. Mary was more of the talker, but Joe was always good for some rehashed news commentary—always with his own spin. Joe was a romantic, always bringing home flowers or plants for his wife, and he had quite a colorful blooming patio. He spent much of his time caring for Mary during her long-term battles with cancer. She adored her husband, whom she fondly called “Joesy”. Joe leaves six children: Christopher Michael Bacavis and wife Sarah; Teresa Ann Gooch and husband Chad; Jodie Lynn Wagner; and Tina Marie Kiehl. In addition, he leaves seven grandchildren: Jackson, Emma, Sierra, Kylie, Candace, Cassidy, and Chase. He was preceded in death by his brother, Elden, and his wife, Mary Beth Closson-Smith. A Celebration of Life service will take place at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 24, at Newcomer’s Noland Road Chapel.