Mr. Smith often said that his greatest accomplishment was his family. He and his late wife, Lorraine Olivia (Jordan) Smith, celebrated their 64th and 65th wedding anniversaries on two joyous family occasions in September 2012 and 2013.
During his 95 years of life, Mr. Smith had many professional accomplishments. He served in the Navy during World War 2. He was a proud graduate (civil engineering) of the University of Kansas. He founded a business (LeaseSmith) and served as vice chairman of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Smith deeply valued education, and travelled widely with his family on over 60 trips abroad.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-chaired several fundraisers and organizations after their move to Denver in 1968. Among them: Saturday Night Live for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Denver Art Museum; Arapahoe House; American Diabetes Foundation; Asian Performing Arts of Colorado (founding members), Arthritis Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, Alliance Francais, Prairie Planters. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were awarded with the Pillar of Distinction by Arapahoe House.
Mr. Smith grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and was a graduate of Wyandotte High School, excelling in math and graduating early. Mr. Smith then qualified for the Navy’s prestigious V-12 program, which was designed to produce officers for the Navy and Marines during World War II.
After the war, a Navy V-12 roommate introduced Mr. Smith to his future wife on a blind date. After marriage, the couple moved to Lawrence where Mr. Smith finished his college degree.
Mr. Smith was one of the engineers that designed levees that protected Kansas City from flooding and he helped engineer many buildings constructed in the city’s Downtown in the 1950s. Mr. Smith decided to launch his own business after a series of leadership and sales positions around the country.
Since childhood, he had an interest in automobiles, trucks and mobility. This led him to foresee a wide need for vehicle leasing. LeaseSmith was born and eventually served companies across the nation until Mr. Smith decided to retire.
But he did not rest for long. Soon, he was recruited to be vice chairman of the Denver Center for Performing Arts, which oversees eight theatres in Colorado. Mr. Smith served for a decade, helping to oversee finances and programming.
Throughout his life, Mr. Smith was active in the United Methodist Church. In Denver, he and his wife were engaged members of Trinity United Methodist Church for 30 years. As chairman of the finance committee, Mr. Smith helped the church sell its air rights and secure the church’s future ministry to Downtown residents.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Levi Landon Smith and Cecil and his two sisters, Harriett Weible and Rosemary McBride. He is survived by his four children: Randall Darby Smith (Joyce) of Columbia, MO; Gary Douglas Smith (Tracy) of Elizabeth, CO; Gregory Jordan Smith (Deseree) of Hong Kong; and Linda Olivia Smith (Kevin Little) of Arlington, VA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Lauren Olivia Hong (Haney), Ryan Darby Smith (Krissy), Jackson Jordan Smith, Alexandra Julie Smith, Andrew Jordan Smith, Caitlin Teresa Little, Emma Olivia Hong and Zoey Jeanette Hong.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m. at Country Club United Methodist Church, 400 W. 57th St., Kansas City, MO 64113. Services will begin at 11 a.m. A burial service will follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery South. Services may be seen on Zoom at the church’s website: countryclubumc.org
Pallbearers are sons Randall D. Smith, Gary D. Smith; son-in-law Kevin N. Little; Haney D. Hong, husband of his granddaughter, Lauren; grandsons Ryan D. Smith, Jackson J. Smith and Andrew J. Smith. Honorary pallbearers are son Gregory J. Smith and brother-in-law, Dr. John N. Jordan.
Donations may be given to the American Diabetes Association either online or by mail: PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023
Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.
