Smith P. Preston

August 20, 2019

Smith P. Preston, of Dade County, Missouri, passed away July 31, 2019, at the age of 88 years. He was born to Joseph Alex and Gladys Mae (Pelts) Preston on November 16, 1930, in Smith Township, Dade County, Missouri. He graduated from Lockwood High School in the class of 1948.

Smithy married Jane Robinson July 22, 1950, and to this union four children were born, Jean Marie, David Smith, Daniel Lynn and Darrell Jay. Smithy lived a full life: raising buffalo, training and racing Quarter Horses, rodeoing, working as an auctioneer, being the “Voice of the Wildcats”, Buffalo Days, and running a family owned business, Preston’s Home Furnishings, for 40 years.
He was also a member of the Kings Point Baptist Church. He was baptized August 11, 1940, at Bishop Springs. He was ordained as a deacon June 29, 1969. Smithy greatly enjoyed all of these things but most of all he loved his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Joe; daughter, Jean Marie Chambers, and son, David Smith Preston.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Jane Preston; son, Daniel (Pat) Preston of Branson, Missouri; son, Darrell (Rhonda) Preston of Greenfield, Missouri; and daughter-in-law, Julie Tempel of Cumming, Georgia; son-in-law, Terry Chambers of Greenfield, Missouri; 12 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Jeannine Preston of Greer, South Carolina.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 2019 with a memorial service to begin at 11 a.m., in the Kings Point Baptist Church, 594 Dade 182 Lockwood, MO 65682.

Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Kids at Mercy Hospital, or the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, Missouri.