Frank Buchanan Smith was born September 6, 1934 in Garnett, Kansas to Jasper Martin and Laura Belle (Miller) Smith. He passed away peacefully at his home in Wray, Colorado on January 4, 2020 after battling a long illness.
Frank attended schools in Independence, Kansas and at West Brown school which was close to Dearing, Kansas where his mother was the teacher of the one room schoolhouse, and graduated from Field McKinley High School in Coffeyville, Kansas where he was a member of the football team. He then attended trade school in Coffeyville for plumbing, carpentry and electrical.
Growing up Frank was active in 40H raising hogs and helping his dad in the family garden and blacksmith shop.
In September of 1953, he married Shirley Ann Caldwell in Nowata, Oklahoma. The young couple made their home in Coffeyville. They were married for over 66 years at the time of his passing.
Daughters, Deb and Darla were born to Frank and Shirley in Coffeyville. After a visit to family in Colorado they decided to move to Wray in July of 1957. A son, Jim was born in Wray.
Frank was a man of many talents and retired as a truck driver in 2000. He drove many years for Raymond Neff in Eckley and John’s 66 Service in Wray. Frank and Shirley moved away for a few years to Greensville, Mississippi and then to Council Grove, Kansas. After Shirley’s retirement they moved back to Wray where he enjoyed working for Fix Farms, Bonanza Ford and Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home.
Frank was an active member of the Wray Nazarene Church since 1974 and an avid motorcycle and classic car mechanic. Frank and Shirley enjoyed traveling each year on the motorcycle. If there was a lake anywhere nearby you could find Frank and Shirley camped in the motorhome, boating and fishing. His pride and joy was the 1941 Ford Sedan which he enjoyed entering into car shows and driving it to coffee in the mornings. He was always teased by family, because he carried a photo of the car in his wallet and not one of Shirley!
He loved wood working and built many pieces of furniture and clocks. He was especially adept at brain teasers, puzzle games and modern technology. He loved meeting “new” friends.
Proceeded in death by his parents; a brother, Jackie; sisters, Nellie Leon, Charlotte Bronnenberg and Laura Belle Shouse; sons-in-law, Rick Schorzman and Randy Urich.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley; daughters, Deb Schorzman and Darla Urich; son, Jim & wife, Glenda Smith; grandchildren, Heather and Larry Schiferl; Kathy and Juan Rodriguez; Amber and Chris Onderlinde; Eric Smith, Matt and Maria Smith; step-grandson, Steve and Becca Urich; 13 great-grandchildren and on3 great-great-grandson; sister-in-law, Donna and Jessie Joplin; and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, 2:00 p.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church with Pastor Harold Jackson officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Wray Nazarene Church Youth Group in Wray, Colorado.
Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.