James Smith

James E. Smith, 83, of Gordonville passed away Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Cape Girardeau, son of Daniel S. and Eva B. Utley Smith. He and Doris J. Eakins were married Oct. 16, 1950, in Cape Girardeau. She passed away June 21, 2011.

James served in the U.S. Army ground forces during World War II, and also in the Missouri State Guard.

He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. with more than 37 years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman. He was a member of Telephone Pioneers of America; West Side Church of God, serving as usher and on various church committees; Beaver Bend Swamp Rangers; and American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include a son, Rodney (Judy) Smith of Jackson; a daughter, LaReesa (Rolf) Hanusa of Georgetown, Texas; five grandchildren, Alaina Smith, Cassie Beary, Tyler Stearns, Eric Hanusa and Kyla Ressel; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Danny E. Smith of Fredericksburg, Va.; a sister, Betty Nanna of Cape Girardeau; and a faithful friend, Thelma Williams.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Richard S. Smith.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jeremy Clayton officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with military honors to be conducted.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice.

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