SHACK SMOTHERMAN

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral for James H. "Shack" Smotherman of East Prairie will be held at 1 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. The Rev. Raymond Hannah will officiate, with burial in Dogwood Cemetery.

Smotherman, 76, died Monday, July 6, 1998, at New Madrid Nursing Center.

He was born Jan. 18, 1922, in Dover, Tenn., son of Hershel and Viola Wyatt Smotherman. He and his first wife, Effie, were married in 1951. She died in July 1980. He and Jeanette Oliphant were married in 1984. She died in May 1992.

Smotherman was a timber cutter and auto body worker. He lived in Mississippi County most of his life, and was a member of Diehlstadt General Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include three sons, Phil Smotherman of Anniston, Thomas Smotherman of East Prairie, Ron Smotherman of New Madrid; two daughters, Barbara Parnell of Marion, Ark., Judy Johnson of Sikeston; three stepsons, Rocky Oliphant of St. Louis, Keith Oliphant of Arnold, and Richard Oliphant of Sikeston.

Also surviving is a stepdaughter, Janet Oliphant of East Prairie; three sisters, Carmon Witty and Mary Baker of East Prairie, Faye Cardwell of Sikeston; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.