Charles Smith

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Charles Clayton Smith, 86, of Perryville died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Perry Oaks Manor in Perryville.

He was born April 1, 1923, in Whitewater, son of Arthur Vernon and Clola Idell Ramsey Smith. He and Pauline Virginia Birkman were married Sept. 19, 1945, in Arkansas.

Smith served in the U.S. Navy from June 16, 1944, to June 27, 1946.

He worked at General Motors and was a member of UAW-CIO Local 25.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Larry Smith and wife Joyce of Houston, Gary Smith and wife Ellen of St. Louis; two daughters, Sharon Pierce and husband Steven of Holliston, Mass., Lisa Stark and husband Kenneth of Perryville; a brother, Vernon "Dayton" Smith of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Viola Geiser of Cape Girardeau, Alma Hoffstetter of Perryville; five grandchildren, Michael Pierce and wife Gloria, Gregory Pierce, Matthew Smith, Kellen Stark, Conner Stark; and a great-grandchild, Isabel Pierce.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and four sisters.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to service time Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau with military rites by Missouri Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to Am Heart Hospice.