James Stanley Smith

James Stanley Smith, age 85, of Aurora, Missouri, passed away at 8:28 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2022, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. He was born August 29, 1937, in

Benkelman, Nebraska, the son of Edward Ellis and Alta (Farris) Smith. James was a 1953 graduate of Aurora High School, attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield for two years and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia. James served in the Army National Guard, was a Correctional Officer in Jefferson City, Missouri and was a cattle farmer. He was a member of the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he served on the Orange Cemetery board. On May 12, 2001, he married Mary Eileen Rogers in Laurie, Missouri. James is survived by his wife of 21 years, Mary; two daughters, Susan Brantley-Smith of Chicago, Illinois and Monica Lawson of California, Missouri; two sons, Robert Smith and his wife, Stacey, of Columbia, Missouri and John Smith of Lubbock, Texas; five stepchildren, Jennifer Gabler and her husband, David, of Austin, Texas, Jeffrey Rogers of St. Louis, Missouri, Diane Johnson of Nixa, Missouri, Kimberly Bruns of Lake Ozark, Missouri and Angela Hatfield of Aurora, Missouri; one sister, Helen Maxine Hunter of Springfield, Missouri; four nephews; 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. James was preceded in death by his parents, Edward, and Alta; grandson, Tyler Hatfield; brother-in-law, Paul Hunter and son-in-law, Charles Lawson. A visitation, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora was held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Orange Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made payable to the Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at www.CraftonCantrellFuneralHome.com.