Lester Junior "Gene" Smith, was born December 31, 1938, at the New Hope community, near Senath, MO, to Lester L. & Eldora Newman Smith. He married Linda Jane Dowdy on February 21, 1957 in Senath, MO.

He was a United States Air Force veteran, having been stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California from 1956-1959. He was a member of & past Commander of the Senath American Legion. He was a member of Lulu Baptist Church, and a life long farmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda Jane; sisters Betty Quaethem & Hattie Sue Jones; brothers Jerry Smith, Carl Edward Smith & Mitchel Smith; & a grandchild, Erik Stafford.

He is survived by his daughters, Sherrye Pruett, of Senath, Rhonda (Pete) Vescio, of Indianapolis, IN, & Teresa (Ronnie) Eubanks, of Senath; grandchildren, Rachel (Dennis) Tucker, of Kennett, Emily Eubanks of Kennett, Sara (Jay) Gipson of Paragould, AR & Taylor Gene Stafford of Indianapolis, IN; great-grandchildren, Addison, Aubree & Brenden; a brother, Donnie Owen Smith, of Rolla, MO, a sister, Judy Carol Osburn, of Paragould, AR, & many other family members & friends.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the McDaniel Funeral Home Chapel in Kennett, with Funeral Services following at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens in Kennett, MO. Pallbearers will be Chad Morgan, Jay Gipson, Brandon Godsey, Jordan Smith, Daniel Jackson, Dustin Jackson.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.