Jimmy Lee Smith (Known to most as Smitty) departed this life on October 12th. 2022. The last few months of his life he had been living at The Soldier's Home at Fort Dodge.
Jimmy was born May 8th 1947 in Oakley, Logan County, Kansas. His parents were John Author Smith and Mary Marvel Nancy Bloom. Jimmy had no siblings and he never married.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968, serving 14 months in Korea with the 122nd. Signal Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.
In 1974 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Kansas state University. (A dual major in painting and printmaking). Most of his life was involved with the production of Commercial and Graphic Art. In 1971 he started his own business in Oakley, painting signs and lettering truck doors, decorating race cars, silk screen painting T-shirts, hats, decals, real estate signs, designing logos for businesses; and spray painting custom automobiles and motorcycles.
His lifelong hobby was music and at one time he had a dance band. There will be a graveside service held on Friday, Nov. 4th 2022 at 10:30 am in the Oakley City Cemetery with Pastor Kyle Bloom, a second cousin of Jimmy's, officiating. His ashes will be buried beside his parents. If any wish to give a memorial the family suggests a gift to the VFW in Oakley, KS. It can be mailed to, VFW , P.O.Box 128, Oakley, KS. 67748
There will be an opportunity in the services to share a favorite memory of Jimmy for those that wish to.