Herschel Clinton Smith, Sr. passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Midwest City at the age of 87.
Herschel was born Jan. 29, 1927, in Cushing, OK, to William Asa Smith and Pearl Vivian (Ferguson) Smith. He was raised on a small farm in Council Valley where he attended a two room school and later graduated from Yale High School in 1946. While in high school, he participated in football and basketball, served as Student Council president and in his senior year drove the school bus. He also attended Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater.
He married Lora Belle Morgan in 1952 and they had two children, Diana and Danny. He later divorced and then married Joy Lou Miller in 1972 and adopted her three children, David, Renee and Willie. They later had a son Herschel, Jr.
He worked in the oil fields as a truck pusher for Hodges Trucking out of Woodward. He enjoyed motorcycles, hunting and attending Yale High School reunions where he could unite with fellow classmates and share stories. He was best known for his kind heart, enjoyable sense of humor, beautiful smile and love of family.
Herschel is survived by brother Ronald Jay Smith and wife Nadyne of Cushing, daughter Diana Peterson and husband David “Dave” of Vero Beach, FL, Danny Smith and wife Darla of Farmington, NM, son David and wife Kathy of Midwest City, OK, daughter Renee Castner and husband Raymond of Glen Burnie, MD, son Herschel “Clint” Smith of Seattle, WA, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Nova, Wayne and Alvin Smith, two sisters, Vergie Lyle and Mary Peterson and great grandson Braydin Michael Davis.
Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, 5 June at Greenwood Cemetery, Yale. Visitation and flowers have been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing.
Condolences and an online guestbook are available at www.PalmerMarlerFH.com.
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