John Smith

John Wiley Smith, 90, of Gordonville, formerly of Qulin, Missouri, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 12, 1923, in Piggott, Arkansas, to Tom and Nora Burkhead Smith. He and Sylvia Brown were married May 2, 1946. They had been married 67 years when she passed away June 28, 2013.

John was a World War II veteran, serving honorably in the U.S. 5th Army, 84th Infantry Division from April 1944 to January 1946.

He was a farmer and homebuilder, retiring in 1985. The Smiths moved from Qulin to Gordonville in 2001. He enjoyed camping, gardening, and carpentry projects. He was a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson; the 84th Infantry Division (aka Railsplitters); Berean Baptist Church in Jackson; and a former member of Lone Prairie Baptist Church in Qulin.

Survivors include three daughters, Carol (Bill) Harshaw of Gordonville, Joy (Donnie) Belcher of Kennett, Missouri, and Janice Corbett of Orland Park, Illinois; a son, John (Hope) Smith of Cherokee Village, Arkansas; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Scott Belcher; six brothers; and four sisters.

Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at Berean Baptist Church.

The funeral will be Friday at noon at the church, with the Rev. Jerry Canady officiating. A committal service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Berean Baptist Church or Bloomfield Assistance League of the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.