Jack Smith

(From Buchanan Funeral Home

Rev. Jack Tilden Smith was born in Monett, Barry County, MO on Tuesday, September 4, 1945 to the union of Luther David Smith and Dorothy Mae Miller-Smith. 80 years later, he was promoted to Glory as he passed away, peacefully, in his sleep at his own home on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

In his youth, Jack’s nickname was “Fat Man” because he was so scrawny. He and his brothers participated in a search & rescue of a lost little girl. She was found taking a nap in the family’s car. He learned great work ethics by picking strawberries to earn enough money to buy his own school clothes for elementary. His big brother Noel rolled him down a hill in a tire, thus aiding in breaking Jack’s front tooth. He and his step-brother Willard would go fishing with dynamite & bring home a huge catch of chub fish every so often. It was a wonder they never blew themselves up.

Jack Smith was a 1963 graduate of Purdy High School where he attended through his entire school career. It was there that he enjoyed boxing and running track. He spent his early adult years as a wrestler with a black belt in Judo & loved to spar. He was a beloved husband, father & grandfather who enriched all their lives through his love of silly jokes. “Railroad crossing. Watch out for cars. How do you spell ‘THAT’ without any ‘Rs’?” was a favorite joke that would lead to bouts of infectious laughter. “Ol’ Blue,” Jack’s Chevy Truck, reflects his patience as both a father & a grandfather with matching dents on each side of the vehicle. Jack loved to tell the story of how his oldest daughter put a dent in one side as she was learning how to drive and his oldest granddaughter put a matching dent on the opposite side in the same place.

He lived a life that modeled what it was to be a Christian & could be found in the evenings in quiet reflection where he would write in his Bible and reflect on his relationship with Christ. John 3:16 was his favorite Bible verse. His devout belief is evident that he will live eternally with our Heavenly Father. He was dedicated to his work, never missing a single day in his 39 years as a cheese pasteurizer operator at Mid-America Dairymen in Aurora & Monett, MO. But he was even more dedicated to his faith as a God fearing man.

Through the years he held many offices in various churches including Assistant Pastor of the Free Spirit Temple (the old Clay Hill Church) at Madry, MO; Sunday School Superintendent at the Assembly of God in Purdy, MO; Assistant Pastor & Pastor at Talmedge PCG of Aurora, MO and the Assistant Pastor and Adult Sunday School Teacher at Union Grove Church of Marionville, MO.

On September 10, 1964 in Monett, Barry County, MO, he was joined in Holy Matrimony to Marilyn (Mary) Crowell, who survives him. He is also survived by his children Elizabeth, Julie & Jim; siblings John, Fred & Frank Smith; 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, a host of nieces & nephews plus an “adopted” daughter Kathy Branham & her fiancée Wesley Weeks. He was preceded in death by his parents, 9 siblings (Paul, Noel, Mary Elizabeth, Loretta Mae, Ronnie, Melvin, Martha, Willard & Charlett) as well as 1 child, 3 grandchildren & 1 great granddaughter.

The outdoor funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 10 am under the pavilion at the Arnhart Baptist Church at East Purdy, MO. Rev. Les Paul, a family friend, will be officiating. Amazing Grace was his favorite song and will be sung by his granddaughter, Angel Townsend. Loved ones coming may dress casually. Please try to bring one single wildflower, picked from the side of the road or your yard to place on his closed casket. (Blue was his favorite color.) Friends and family may come and pay their respects from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. The funeral services will be held under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett, MO, to which the family is extremely thankful for during this time.