Merle Ray "Pete" Smith, 1890 - 1967

SMITH, KING, MAHANNAH, WALES, THOMAS

Posted By: Gloria J. Henry (email)
Date: 3/4/2005 at 14:32:58

[about May 11, 1967. Newspaper unknown]

Merle "Pete" Smith Dies; Long-Time North English Businessman
Merle Ray "Pete" Smith, longtime North English businessman, died Saturday, May 6 in Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. He had suffered a heart condition on April 27th and had been a patient at Mercy hospital since them.
Funeral services for the deceased were held in the Christian Church at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, May 8th, with the pastor, Reverend David Stout officiating.
The organist was Mrs. Robert Gilmore.
Casket bearers were; Dean H. Thomas, Keith Maosn, Arnold Bari, Elmer Riess, Lynn Kolosik and Larry Harris.
Burial was made in the North English Cemetery.
Merle Ray, son of Omer and Alice King Smith, was born at North English, Iowa, April 21, 1890, and passed away at Iowa City, Iowa, May 6, 1967, at the age of 77 years, 15 days.
He attended school here and graduated form North English high school in the class of 1906. He later attended the University of Iowa.
He was a veteran of WWI, having served in the Air Force during the conflict with the Kaiser's legions.
Before WWI he was associated with his father in the garage business here, as a mechanic. He returned to this post following the war.
He was married to Miss Mary Mahannah of North English on December 7, 1925 at Des Moines.
For 35 years, "Pete" operated and owned the Smith garage and coal company here. He retired about three years ago.
He was a member of the local Christian Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary (Mahannah); his parents; one sister, Clarie (Mrs Grover Wales) and one brother Vance.
He is survived by one sister, Elva (Mrs. John V. Thomas) of Des Moines; two brothers, Lynn of Rockford and Russell of Marble Rock; nieces and nephews, other relatives and a large circle of friends.