Kenneth E. Smith

Kenneth (Kenny) Smith age 87, of Spring Hill, KS passed away January 8, 2014 at Olathe Medical Center after a short illness. Ken was born December 25, 1926 in Hume, MO, to Frank and Bessie Pritchett Smith. He was a paratrooper in World War II, and spent time in Japan as a supply sergeant. After returning home from the war he was united in marriage to Mary Severy in October 1949. Ken and Mary had two sons, Kenton E. Smith and Larry W. Smith. Ken worked at the Kansas City Terminal handling mail for twenty three years. He moved to Bucyrus in 1955 and in 1962 he started farming and raising hogs. After getting out of the hog business, he started up the Spring Hill Quail Farm and sold quail for people to work their hunting dogs on. While doing that he got into breeding some of the best field trial dogs in the region. Ken"s love for hunting and fishing started when he was seven years old and for the next eighty years it was a big part of his life. In 1998 he re-married to Marianne Vance and had seven happy years until her death in 2003. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, his wife Mary, his son Kenton, and his wife Marianne. He is survived by his son, Larry W. Smith and his wife Kim of Louisburg, a brother, Jessie Smith of Butler, a daughter in law, Randi, two step daughters, Laura and Linda, step son in law, Chan, seven grandsons, and several great grandchildren. A step grandson and a step granddaughter and three step great grandchildren, and Kathy, Angie and Mr. B his cat. The family suggests contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project or to your local VFW.