Harold M. Hal Smith

Harold M. "Hal" Smith, age 85, of Hewitt, formerly of Leroy, passed away Sunday afternoon, January 9, 2005 at Providence Hospital in Waco. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with the Rev. Rex Bland officiating. Burial will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery near Axtell. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Mr. Smith was born on February 28, 1919 in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada, the son of Herbert and Faith (Mardall) Smith. He graduated from a Bismark, North Dakota High School. Hal served his country with the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He married Frances Crook in 1957 and she preceded him in death in 1990. He then married Gladys Rueter Krause on March 7, 1991 in Leroy. He worked as a salesman and sales manager for Combined American Insurance Company for many years before retiring in 1990. He was also a farmer and rancher. Hal was an active member of Olive Branch Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and music director. His parents; a daughter, Sharon Morse; and a sister, Jean Gould all precede him in death. Survivors include his wife, Gladys Smith of Hewitt; three sons, Ron Smith of Fairfield, Stan Smith of Houston and Bruce Smith of Mart; a daughter, Frances Scales and her husband Doug of Cedar Creek; three step-daughters, Sandra Fisk and her husband Harold of Bruceville, Marilyn Ridings and her husband Jim of Meridian, and Fredda Carter of Fayetteville; two sisters, Olive Glackin of Illinois and Rosie Wilkins of Wisconsin; a half sister, Barbara McKee of Illinois; fourteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers will be Todd Copeland, William Copeland, Jason Ridings, Jeremiah Bland, Harold Fisk, Paul Scales, Brad Heimann, Jim Ridings. Honorary pallbearers are deacons of Olive Branch Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Olive Branch Baptist Church.