James Lyle Smith

James Lyle Smith was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on January 16, 2026. His life was characterized by his unwavering love of his wife and his devotion to his children and grandchildren. His quiet and gentle presence will be missed by all who knew him. He was born March 3, 1949, in Rushville, NE to Curtiss N. and Goldie G. Smith. Growing up in the Panhandle and Sandhills of Nebraska, Jim developed a strong work ethic by helping his father with the family timber company, working as a ranch hand, and holding a job at a local grocery store. He attended school in Rushville and Hay Springs and graduated from Merriman High School in 1967. After graduation, he attended Chadron State College for a year before answering the call of the country he loved by enlisting in the United States Army on October 5, 1971, in Omaha, Nebraska.

After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Jim was transferred to Monterey, California, where he attended the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey and studied Vietnamese. It was there that he met the love of his life, Coffey Jones. They were married on March 3, 1973, at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

In July 1973, Jim was assigned to the Army Security Agency and deployed to Thailand, where he interpreted Vietnamese radio transmissions. During this deployment, his wife gave birth to their first son, Carter. Jim reenlisted while in Thailand and returned to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey in August 1974 to study German. During this time, they welcomed their second son, Parker.

After graduating in August 1975, Jim and his family were stationed in Augsburg, Germany, for three years, where he conducted field training missions with his squad. He was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on September 14, 1978.

After his military service, Jim returned to Nebraska, studied carpentry, and eventually settled back in Rushville. They purchased the Longhorn Café and worked there until Jim started working for the Rushville Post Office in 1984. While living in Rushville they welcomed their daughter, Nichole, and later two more sons, Joseph and Nathan.

Jim spent over three decades serving as a rural mail carrier, in the Rushville, Ogallala and Bridgeport offices, retiring from the Bridgeport Post Office in 2017. He and Coffey also owned Aunt Bea’s Restaurant, where the family worked side by side. Known for his dedication, Jim was always the last to leave, making sure everything was done right.

In retirement, Jim worked summers at the Bridgeport Pioneer Museum until declining health slowed him in 2024. Jim will be remembered for his service, work ethic, devotion to his family, and quiet faithfulness in all he did. Throughout his life Jim enjoyed listening to the AM and shortwave radio, football games, reading, hunting, fishing, and chatting with family and friends. He passed away peacefully at home after spending his last days on this earth with his wife and children close by.

He is survived by his wife, Coffey, his children, Carter Smith of Hayden, Alabama; Parker (Billie) Smith of Bridgeport; Nichole (Casey) Harless of Parker, CO; and Joseph (Chelsie) Smith of Bridgeport; his sister, Janice Bruhn of Chadron; sister-in-law, Katherine Smith of Scottsbluff; 17 grandchildren and spouses, one great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, Curtiss N. Smith, his mother, Goldie G. (Huckins) Smith, his youngest son, Nathan E. Smith; and his brothers, Robert Smith and Richard Smith.