Gordon Smith 1903-1973

SMITH, ANDERSEN, BOWERS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/22/2016 at 07:33:41

15 February 1973 - The North Cedar Press

Last rites for Gordon Smith, 69, Clarence, former state legislator, county coroner and mayor of Clarence, were held at the United Methodist church, Clarence, Feb. 12. The Rev. Charles McNeeley, Martelle and the Rev. James Lusher, Clarence, officiated.

Pallbearers were Glen Jensen, Owen Slaymaker, Hans Christiansen, John Hoffner, Raymond Doermann and Dale Struthers. Honorary pallbearers were Elwood Kirkpatrick, Lester Kelly, Wayne Saunders, Harry Decker and Paul Busching. Marjorie Lacock was organist and Dillon Holcomb, soloist.

Eveadell Brink, Mrs. Elwood Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Wilbert Wiebke were in charge of flowers. Burial was in the Clarence cemetery where Masonic rites were conducted.

Mr. Smith died at St. Luke's hospital, Cedar Rapids, Feb. 9. He had been taken by ambulance to the hospital Feb. 8 after suffering a heart attack.

The son of Charles and Sarah Andersen Smith, he was born at Clarence July 27, 1903 and was married to Alsa Bowers at Waterloo June 16, 1926.

Active in Republican politics most of his life, Mr. Smith served in the Iowa legislature for 2 terms. He defeated LaMar Foster, 3,198 to 2,792 in 1938 and Ed F. Walshire, 5,058 to 2,988 in 1940. He was Cedar county coroner from Aug. 26, 1946 to Dec. 31, 1952.

Mr. Smith also served as mayor of Clarence in 1945 and 1946.

He was active as a lay minister, speaking at church and at funeral services throughout the Cedar county area. He was also a popular speaker on the history of Iowa and Cedar county. His knowledge of the history of the Cedar county area was considered unrivaled and he had several articles published in the Cedar County historical review. He was considered "the authority" on the history of his area.

He maintained an office in Clarence where he conducted a variety of professional and business services and was active in the preparation of income tax returns at the time of his death.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Oddfellows and the Cedar County Historical society.

He is survived by his wife, 2 sons, Barton, Casper, Wyo., and Forrest, Oakland, Calif., and 3 grandchildren.