OSKALOOSA —
Gerald “Jerry” Smothers, 83, of Oskaloosa, passed away Monday morning, Jan. 21, 2013, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 25, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. John Allard of the First Pentecostal Church officiating. Cremation will follow the service and private interment of his ashes will be held at Friends Cemetery in Oskaloosa at a later time. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday at the funeral home; the family will be present from 6-7 p.m. to greet visitors. Memorials may be made in his name and will be designated at a later time.
Gerald Dean Smothers, son of Emil and Lena Grace Smith Smothers, was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Linby. Jerry’s family moved to King City, Mo., when he was a child and it was there he attended high school. Following his education he worked as a farm hand for an uncle. Jerry spent two years in the National Guard. He married Betty Lou Russell, May 5, 1959, in Princeton, Mo. They eventually moved to Oskaloosa and he began his near 30 year career with Vermeer Manufacturing as a line assembler. He retired Aug. 1, 1997. In his spare time, Jerry enjoyed woodworking, old cars, tinkering in his garage, playing cards and spending time with his grandchildren.
Jerry’s family includes his children: Jerry (Debbie) Smothers, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Leeann (Jeff) Parlet, of Oskaloosa; six grandchildren, one great-grandson; a sister, Doris (Don) Hinkle, of King City, Mo.; a brother, Ronnie (Dolores “Dee”) Smothers, of Long Beach, Calif.; a close companion, Betty White, of Oskaloosa; and four step-children and their spouses.
In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his step-father, Archie Campbell, his wife Betty Lou on Sept. 25, 2004; a sister, Evelyn; and a brother, Arvin.
Obituaries
Related Photos
-
Gerald Smothers
Sign our guestbook
January 23, 2013
