Edward Earl Smith

Edward Earl Smith, 97, of Orlando passed peacefully from this life to receive his heavenly reward on January 6, 2016, at the Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry, Okla. Services have been entrusted to the care of the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Perry and a service celebrating Earl"s life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016, at the Orlando United Methodist Church with Pastor Adrian Pollard officiating. A public visitation will take place on Friday, January 8, 2016, from 9 am. to 8 p.m. with the family greeting friends at the funeral home from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Edward Earl Smith was born February 23, 1918, at Orlando, Okla., to Daniel and Maude Smith. He attended Oak Point School during his elementary years and then attended Orlando High School where he graduated in 1935. Earl enjoyed sports and was a great basketball player. Earl farmed for several years before being employed as an oil field pumper for Bay Petroleum Company and later for Tenneco Oil Company. Earl completed his working years as an assemblyman at Ditch Witch. Earl and Viola Lorene Frey were united in marriage on May 30, 1939. They established their first home on their farm northwest of Orlando that was homesteaded by Earl"s parents. They lived there until 1977 when they bought a house in Orlando. Earl and Viola enjoyed the fruits of the labor as they raised cattle, milked cows, raised pigs and chickens, collected eggs, always had a large vegetable garden, and canned and put in the freezer vegetables and fruit for enjoyment all year. Earl and Viola celebrated 75 years of marriage before her passing in 2014. Earl was a long-time and faithful member of the Orlando United Methodist Church where he served on various committees and always helped with construction, repair, and clean-up projects. Earl was also a former member of the Orlando Lions Club and served on the Orlando School Board for several years. He served as the keeper of the game clock at the Orlando High School basketball games for many years. Earl enjoyed fishing, quail hunting, deer hunting, welding, picking up pecans and picking out pecans. Sharing the pecans he picked out was always enjoyable to him. He also enjoyed making various welding projects; some of which he donated to individuals and organizations. Earl was an avid pitch player and enjoyed playing dominoes. He also enjoyed gospel music and attended numerous concerts over the years. He loved to make brownies and share with family and friends. Earl was a kind, generous, gentle, appreciative, loving man. He will be missed by all of his family and friends. Earl is survived by three sons and their spouses: Jim and Lois Smith, Perry; John and Donna Smith, Spring, Tex.; and Don and Glenda Smith, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; two daughters and their spouses: Gloria and Gary Koch, Orlando; and Sherry and Jerry Gottschalk, Mannford; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren, one sister, Leola Passow, Topeka, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Viola; infant daughter Wanda Faye; three brothers: Bill, Clarence, and Dannie; and five sisters: Lottie, Ruby, Mae, Nettie, and Helen. Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guest book at www.perrycares.com The family requests memorials be made in Earl"s name to the Orlando United Methodist Church Building Fund or to Companion Hospice, in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Perry, 203 E. Fir, Perry, OK 73077.

1/8/2016
09:00 AM
08:00 PM
Viewing
Palmer Marler Funeral Home
203 Fir Street
Perry
OK
73077



1/9/2016
10:00 AM

Funeral
Orlando United Methodist Church
Highway 77 & Fairbanks
Orlando
OK
73073