C. Hughie Smith

Charles Hughie Smith, 79, of Jackson passed away Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 28, 1926, in Wayne County, Mo., son of Charley and Clemma Smith.

He was inducted into the U.S. Navy Jan. 29, 1945, in St. Louis. He was honorably discharged April 19, 1946, a seaman, second class.

He and Maxine Rainwater were married Oct. 29, 1951, in Piggott, Ark. In 1967, they moved from Groveland, Ill., to Jackson, where they called "home."

Hughie was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church, the VFW and the Elks Lodge in Cape Girardeau. He worked many years at Proctor and Gamble, retiring in 1986.

He will be remembered for his love of fishing and gardening, for blackberry picking and for his contests with his "girls" to have the first ripe tomato of the season, even if it meant buying it from the store and tying it on the plant. His ornery smile and fun-loving sense of humor will be missed.

He is survived by children, Robin Dyer, D.O., of Tulsa, Okla., Sonja (Ken) Davis of Jackson, C.W. (Shirley) Hughey of Fort Worth, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Mary Kay Smith of Valle Mines, Mo; and a brother, Elmer (Sue Ann) Smith of Jackson.

Eleven grandchildren will miss their "PaPa Hughie": Lt. Cormac Smith of Colorado, Tara (Mike) Baca of Idaho, Brianna and Ian Smith of Valle Mines, Aaron Dyer of Oklahoma, Raunda Graham Ward (Paul) of St. Louis, Chad (Elizabeth) Reimann of Virginia, Kevin (Amy) Davis of Georgia, Scott (Debbie) Davis of St. Louis, Rachel and Casper Hughey of Texas; and nine great-grandchildren, Luke Graham, Eliott and Garett Reimann, Allison and Hayden Baca, Kayla and Cody Davis, Kayla and Justin Webb.

In addition to Maxine, his wife of 54 years, he was also preceded in death by his son, Kevin Smith; and four siblings, Dorothy Ward, Claude, Earl and Donald Smith.

Friends may call Tuesday, April 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, April 12, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. John Rice and Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating. Interment will follow in Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, with full military honors.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the New McKendree Education Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.