Obit of Leo Smith (Former Owner of Smith Funeral Home) Checotah, Ok - McIntosh County, Oklahoma ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm Submitted to: http://www.rootsweb.com/~okmcinto/index.htm Submitted to: http://www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/ok/mcintosh/mcintosh.html Compiled, Transcribed & Submitted: Shelley Lynch ========================================================================== Published in Muskogee Phoenix On November 12, 2006 Checotah man shoots self, dies A 65-year-old Checotah man died Friday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Checotah police. Leo Smith, 65, was taken by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital late Friday afternoon, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful. Published in Muskogee Phoenix On November 13, 2006 Section A. Page 4 Leo Smith 1941-2006 Leo Smith, 65 year old long time business owner from Checotah passed from this life on Friday, Nov. 10th, 2006. Leo was born on Sept 30th, 1941 in Ft. Smith, AR to Newell and Hattie (Walker) Smith, and moved to Checotah with his family in 1952. It was at this time that his father purchased the Powers Funeral Home, later becoming the Smith Funeral Home, and was the beginning of a career that spanned five decades for Leo. Receiving his education in Checotah, during high school he was a member of the band, and was a page in the Oklahoma State Capital. Graduating from Checotah High School in 1959, he attended college for two years before enrolling in the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated in 1962. He became active in the daily functions of the business, and later became the sole owner of the Smith Funeral Home having purchased it from his parents. He and his former wife, Cindy (Bloss), managed and maintained the Funeral Home for over 20 years. He was very active in the funeral industry, serving in different levels of directorship with the Oklahoma State Funeral Directors Association, culminating with his presidency of the Association in 1986. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. Leo was a 32nd degree mason, a past president of the Masonic Lodge #86, member of the Masonic Consistory and was a Jester. He was well known as “Yo-Yo” the clown in the Shrine Circus, performing various tricks with his yo-yo and enjoying every minute of entertaining the children. He was also a former Director of Peoples National Bank in Checotah, member of the First Baptist Church, and enjoyed spending his spare time fishing and hunting. On Aug. 29th, 2003, Leo and Patricia Ann Longcrier were married in Checotah. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Newell and Hattie Smith. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann of the home; son Steven and his wife Theresa of Miami, FL; Daughter Seana Ogle and her husband Joe of Stillwater; Step sons, Rocky and his wife Betty Longcrier of Checotah, Guy and his wife Treba Longcrier of Hodgenville, KY; step daughter, Terri and her husband Kent Grimes of Sawyer, OK; his former wife and mother of Steven and Seana, Cindy Smith of Stillwater; three aunts, Seba Brown, of Claremore, Pauline Webster of Sallisaw, and Dorothy “Dot” Gage of Cypress, CA; 12 grandchildren; and his special friends and daily companions Mickey and Zeze. Funeral services for Leo will be held on Wednesday, Nov 15th, 2006 at 2:00 pm in the First Baptist Church with interment in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah. Serving as casketbearers will be Don “Punkin” King, Randy Cox, Roger Beaver, Patrick King, Kevin Fisher, Darren Koch, and Paulette Reece, all former employees of the Smith Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hampton Mortuary, 211 W. Okmulgee, Checotah. 473-6821 ========================================================================== Return to McIntosh County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/mcintosh/mcintosh.html