Raymond F. SMITH

SMITH, PAZOL, SHROEDER, SHEEHAN, DAWSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/7/2009 at 12:13:25

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
December 13, 1997

Raymond F. Smith, 97, passed away quietly on December 11, 1997. Ray was born on April 16, 1900 in Dows, IA, the middle of 3 children of Clarence Raymond Smith and Ida Shroeder Smith. He attended high school in Armstrong, IA and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1922, earning a degree in Business and Commerce. After graduation, Ray returned to his parents' home in Lakota, IA and assumed the responsibility of managing the family's General Merchandise and Grocery Store. His father was in declining health at the time. Ray soon married, Edith Celestine Dawson of Aurelia, IA. The marriage was blessed with 3 sons, 2 of whom survived to adulthood. Between 1921 and 1950 the business grew and in the late 1940's the store became a SuperValue supermarket. Ray was a well respected businessman in the Lakota and Kossuth County business communities. In 1950 Ray retired from the day to day operation of the store and moved his family to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Marv Kloke was put in charge of the store and later the two men opened another store in Decorah, IA. After several years of retirement, Ray received his real estate license and was one of three developers who built and managed the Riverland Shopping Center, on of the first such enterprises in Broward County. In 1964, the shoping center was sold and Ray settled into full retirement, spending much of his time fishing from local fishing piers and traveling with his wife, Celestine. Ray and Celestine were faithful members of the First Presbyteria n Church of Ft. Lauderdale. Ray is survived by his wife of 72 years, Celestine Smith; 2 sons, Conley R. Smith (Janet) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Robert F. Smith (Ellen) of Atlanta, GA; 3 grandchildren, Connie Sheehan (James), Erika Pazol (Todd) and Kirk Smith; and 2 greatgrandchildren, Christopher and Ryan Sheehan. Visitation Sunday, 2 to 4 PM. Funeral services will be held in The Chapel at Forest Lawn South, 2401 SW 64 Ave. (Davie Road), Ft. Lauderdale, FL at 3 PM on Monday, December 15, 1997.