Jesse E. "Smitty" Smith went to be with the Lord" on Nov. 27, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.
Smitty was born Oct. 19, 1924, in Monroe County, Iowa. His father was Jesse Smith Sr., and his mother was Bulah (Elswick) Smith.
He grew up on a farm in Iowa, attended a country school and then graduated from Moriva High School. When he was 17 years old he learned to fly, paying $8 an hour for lessons. Flying was truly his passion for the rest of his life.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy and became a gunner's mate, serving aboard a Navy tanker during World War II. He was discharged in 1946. He then returned to Iowa to marry Eileen Culver. They had two children.
In 1949, he enlisted in the Army and became a motor sergeant. Along came the Korean War and his outfit was one of the first units to be dispatched to Incheon, Korea. Smitty received nine honorary medals. He also served 22 years in the Navy Reserve. Smitty, as well as his family, was very proud of his service to this country.
Smitty and his family soon moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where they lived for over 30 years. Smitty worked for Phil Long Ford, managed Conoco Car Clinic, and owned several gas stations.
With his love of flying, Smitty had owned several airplanes - a 1948 Cessna 120, 1949 Cessna 140, and a 1953 Cessna 170B. He was on the board of directors for the Colorado Aviation Historical Society, and was the founder and state director for the Colorado Antiques Airplane Association.
In 1999, Smitty and Eileen moved to Kalispell to be near their daughter and family. There he enjoyed his coffee time with friends at Sykes' Restaurant, time spent at Glacier Airport, with the pilots at Semitool and especially his time spent at Red Eagle Aviation. On his 85th birthday, Jim Pierce took Smitty on his first helicopter ride.
"Thank you, Jim, Rachael, and all at Red Eagle Aviation for being so wonderful to him."
Smitty is survived by his wife, Eileen, of 65 years; his daughter, Kathy Collins, of Bigfork; Kerry Smith of Colorado Springs; his brother, Carol D. Smith, of Waverly, Iowa; his grandchildren, Tami Bier, Michael Collins, Jennifer Syckes and Jami Collins, all of Montana, and Sherry Johnson, Joshua Smith and Todd Smith, all of Colorado; and his 12 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Susan, Jill, Pastor Bob, Lon and all the ladies at Hospice and Home Options for such loving care; and thank you to our caring neighbors, Russ Mole and Merdie Hartsoch, for all your help.
Several years back Smitty wrote his life story and this how he ended the book, "I think I have had the most interesting life a man can have. Flying has really been my passion and I have enjoyed every flight I've had the privilege of flying. In my lifetime, I have seen so many things, done so many things and had so much, far more than I deserved. The good Lord has certainly blessed me with a multitude of memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Most of all, I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I thank each and every one of you and I love you all. One of the important things in my life was to see people, laugh and smile. I did my best to make that happen."
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jesse Smith Jr, please visit our flower store.
Smitty was born Oct. 19, 1924, in Monroe County, Iowa. His father was Jesse Smith Sr., and his mother was Bulah (Elswick) Smith.
He grew up on a farm in Iowa, attended a country school and then graduated from Moriva High School. When he was 17 years old he learned to fly, paying $8 an hour for lessons. Flying was truly his passion for the rest of his life.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy and became a gunner's mate, serving aboard a Navy tanker during World War II. He was discharged in 1946. He then returned to Iowa to marry Eileen Culver. They had two children.
In 1949, he enlisted in the Army and became a motor sergeant. Along came the Korean War and his outfit was one of the first units to be dispatched to Incheon, Korea. Smitty received nine honorary medals. He also served 22 years in the Navy Reserve. Smitty, as well as his family, was very proud of his service to this country.
Smitty and his family soon moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where they lived for over 30 years. Smitty worked for Phil Long Ford, managed Conoco Car Clinic, and owned several gas stations.
With his love of flying, Smitty had owned several airplanes - a 1948 Cessna 120, 1949 Cessna 140, and a 1953 Cessna 170B. He was on the board of directors for the Colorado Aviation Historical Society, and was the founder and state director for the Colorado Antiques Airplane Association.
In 1999, Smitty and Eileen moved to Kalispell to be near their daughter and family. There he enjoyed his coffee time with friends at Sykes' Restaurant, time spent at Glacier Airport, with the pilots at Semitool and especially his time spent at Red Eagle Aviation. On his 85th birthday, Jim Pierce took Smitty on his first helicopter ride.
"Thank you, Jim, Rachael, and all at Red Eagle Aviation for being so wonderful to him."
Smitty is survived by his wife, Eileen, of 65 years; his daughter, Kathy Collins, of Bigfork; Kerry Smith of Colorado Springs; his brother, Carol D. Smith, of Waverly, Iowa; his grandchildren, Tami Bier, Michael Collins, Jennifer Syckes and Jami Collins, all of Montana, and Sherry Johnson, Joshua Smith and Todd Smith, all of Colorado; and his 12 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Susan, Jill, Pastor Bob, Lon and all the ladies at Hospice and Home Options for such loving care; and thank you to our caring neighbors, Russ Mole and Merdie Hartsoch, for all your help.
Several years back Smitty wrote his life story and this how he ended the book, "I think I have had the most interesting life a man can have. Flying has really been my passion and I have enjoyed every flight I've had the privilege of flying. In my lifetime, I have seen so many things, done so many things and had so much, far more than I deserved. The good Lord has certainly blessed me with a multitude of memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Most of all, I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I thank each and every one of you and I love you all. One of the important things in my life was to see people, laugh and smile. I did my best to make that happen."