A funeral service for James Clifford Smith of Tarkio, Missouri, was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Tarkio. Interment was held at Center Grove Cemetery, Westboro, Missouri. Reverend Glenn Scott officiated. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Clifford, the son of Charles Clifford and Leona Maude (Freeman) Smith, was born February 17, 1937, in Tarkio. He attended Westboro High School, graduating in 1955.
On December 8, 1957, Clifford was united in marriage to Luretta Rose Harbison at the First Baptist Church in Tarkio. They made their home in Tarkio until 1963 when they moved to the Smith family farm northeast of Tarkio, where Clifford lived to the present time. They became the parents of three children: Clifford Brian, Belinda Suzanne and Lauren Brent.
Clifford loved farming and managing their cattle. He drove a school bus for 25 years and was bus superintendent for 20 years.
Clifford was a member of the First Baptist Church, Tarkio, where he formerly served as a deacon. He and Luretta belonged to the Hitch Hiker Camping Club and for 15 years enjoyed pulling their camper to Arizona and Branson, Missouri. He also served on the Tarkio Nutrition Center and Rural Fire Boards. Luretta passed away January 1, 2017. Although Clifford was “full of orneriness” he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and will be deeply missed by all. Clifford passed away Monday, May 28, 2018, at his home, at the age of 81.
In addition to his parents and wife, Luretta, Clifford was preceded in death by brothers and sisters-in-law, John Fischer, Dean and Pat Meek, Loren Schoonover, Gilbert Burke and Beverly and Bill Springer. Survivors include son, Brian Smith, Tarkio; former daughter-in-law, Loria Smith, St. Joseph, Missouri; daughter, Belinda (Butch) Grimm, St. Joseph; son, Brent (Sherry) Smith, Tarkio; four grandsons, Jeremy, Joshua and Jason Smith, and Kolton Wallace; six step grandchildren, Stephanie Smith, Devin Wallingford, Connor Grimm, Anna Carr, Bryant Corbin and Brittany Corbin; one great-grandchild, Curtis Smith; seven step great-grandchildren, Brody Cobb-Wallace, Mason Corbin, Lilly and Brylee Corbin, Leslie Rose, Piper Jo Wallingford and Tyler Smith; sisters, Betty Francis Fischer, Kansas City, Missouri, and Sarah Annabelle Burke, Rock Port, Missouri; brother, Robert Darrel (Betty) Smith, Tarkio; and in-home caregivers, Sharon Fruechtenicht, Joyce Walkup, Kema Pinzino, Connie Lewis, Darci Morey, and Rachelle Brown.
Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church, Tarkio, or Tarkio Nutrition Center. Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.
