Harold Smith

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Harold Dean Smith, age 87, a longtime Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Neosho, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 11:21 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. He was born October 11, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to the late Carol and Amy (Gamble) Smith. 

Harold graduated from Shawnee High School in 1953 and was a U.S. Army Veteran. On June 4, 1976, he married Linda Rapp in Monrovia, California.

Harold retired from the Santa Fe Railroad in 1979, and shortly after, they moved to Neosho to be near family. He went to work as the Credit Manager for Frye & Gray Home Furnishings, which later became Westco. Not a man to sit still, Harold also drove a school bus for Neosho schools and was a truck driver.

He and Linda established roots at the First Baptist Church of Neosho, and Harold taught Sunday school and served as a Deacon. Collectively, he taught Sunday school for over 50 years. He loved his church and church family and was proud to be a servant of the Lord.

Harold was an avid golfer, an OU football fan, and coached youth baseball for many years. He enjoyed driving and seeing the country and took his family on several memorable road trips. He was always the first to volunteer to help out others in their time of need and earned the nickname “body of an ox” by his family for his ability to tackle any project, big or small. Harold had a joy for life and was always humming or singing his favorite gospel hymn. He stayed active and never let his age prevent him from hopping on a roller coaster or doing cannonballs off of the diving board along with his children and grandchildren.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda, of the home; four children, Alan (Sue) Smith of Neosho, Stacey Smith-King of Coleman, Texas; Ryan (Sarah) Smith of Berrien Center, Michigan, and Cristin (Thomas) Gilleland of Neosho; ten grandchildren, Josh Smith, Natalie Almanza, Kelsey Douglas, Dylan Shubin, Grace Hutchens, Jacob Smith, Isla Smith, Emilia Smith, Lillian Smith; and Nora Gilleland; and seven great-grandchildren with another on the way; a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

In addition to his parents, his two sisters, Caroleen Speck and Sherry Johnson, and two nieces, Ami Lawson and Audry Johnson, preceded him in death.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Neosho, with Pastors Marcus Rogers and Jerry Seigel officiating. A burial with full military honors will follow at the Neosho IOOF Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, 2022, at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories in Neosho. First Baptist Church Deacons and Elders will serve as pallbearers.

In memory of Harold, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Neosho, PO Box 66, Neosho, MO 64850. The family of Harold Smith would like to thank Avalon Hospice for their care and assistance during this difficult time. They have been a blessing to the family.