James Smith

METROPOLIS, Ill. — James Garfield Smith, 70, of Metropolis, formerly of Olmsted, Illinois, passed away Thursday morning, July 21, 2016, in Jackson.

James was born Aug. 18, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee, son of the late Garfield and Mary Lena Ryan Smith.

James was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during Vietnam and was a bus driver for the Shawnee Mass Transit District.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bill Smith.

Survivors include his wife, Mary E. Smith of Metropolis; five sons, Timothy James (Cathy) Smith of Chillicothe, Ohio, Thomas Jackson (Cinnamon) Smith of Carbondale, Illinois, Michael Shannon Dean of Macon, Georgia, John Paul (Carroll) Smith of Metropolis and Chris Lee (Crystal) Smith of Thebes, Illinois; three brothers, Kenny Smith of Mounds, Illinois, John Smith of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Robert Smith of Cairo, Illinois; two sisters, Sue Laird of Olmsted and Kathy Smith Munsell of Cummingham, Kentucky; 12 grandchildren, Eric Smith, Ariel Smith, Katarina Smith, Teylor Dean, Kayla Dean, Zachary Dean, Alexandra Ingoldsby, Alexis Smith, Eyan Isoline, Isabelle Smith, Jaxx Smith and Lynlee Smith; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Friends may call between 5 and 8 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home Villa Ridge, Illinois.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Frank Staple Jr. and Richard Bundren officiating. Interment will be in Mound City National Cemetery in Mound City, Illinois, with military honors given by the U.S. Navy Burial Team.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mary Smith/James Smith Education Fund, c/o City Bank, P.O. Box 380, Metropolis, IL 62960, in memory of James Garfield Smith.

To leave online condolences visit www.jones-funeral.com.