WILLIAM BURRELL SMITH

William Burrell Smith, 103, died on February 10, 2022, in the Lewis County Nursing Home at Canton, Missouri.

He was born May 2, 1918 in Monticello, the youngest son of eight children born to George W. and Elizabeth Amanda Frazier Smith. He was educated in Monticello Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1936.

During the summer of 1936 upon his graduation from high school, he conducted what he termed as “surveys” within the county for prospective Rural Electric Cooperative customers. In the early days of rural electrification at least four customers per mile were needed in order to bring a power line down the road.

In 1939 he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth M. Adams. They made their home in Monticello where he operated a Shell service station. He entered the United States Army in 1943. After assignments to a number of training locations throughout the United States, including New Mexico and Colorado, he received his orders for overseas duty. He embarked from Newport News, Virginia, on May 2, 1944, aboard the USS Felix Grundy. They landed at Oran, in North Africa, where he disembarked and traveled by plane and truck, through the North African desert until he arrived a John Payne Field near Cairo, Egypt. At the conclusion of the War, he returned to the States and was honorably discharged at Scott Field in Southern Illinois.

Shortly after his return from the War, he sought and obtained employment at the Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative in December 1945, where he worked for the next thirty-five years, the majority of which was as the Lead Area Lineman.

Burrell Smith has always been a man of quiet demeanor and impeccable devotion. His devotion didn’t stop with his work. During his life, he had been dedicated to his God, his wife Ruth of almost sixty years, his children, his job, his church, and his community. He worked diligently for the betterment of his community of Monticello serving more than forty-six years including numerous terms as Mayor.

He served as a board member of the LEMO Public Schools, a Deacon and life member of the Monticello Christian Church, and a member of Monticello Masonic Lodge for more than 80 years, member of Lewis County Memorial Post #578 of the American Legion for more than 75 years, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of several Model T Ford clubs.

He is survived by a daughter Ruth Ann Hudnut of Canton, William B. Smith II (Barbara) of Monticello, four grandchildren, Larry Wayne Hudnut (Sandra), Lori Krumm (David), Nathan Smith (Amy), and Shawna Davis (CJ), eight great grandchildren, and seven great, great grandchildren, and host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents George and Elizabeth, six sisters, Alma, Grace, May, Ethel, Nan, and Edna, one brother, Hugh, two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Adam, and a son-in-law, Larry Hudnut.

Funeral services were held February 13, 2022 at the Monticello United Methodist Church at Monticello, Missouri with Rev. Carolyn Leaver and Derrick Hudnut officiating. Visitation was held prior to services.

Pallbearers: Tracy Wilbert, Carter Smith, Derrick Hudnut, Colten Rutledge, Caden Davis and Colin Davis.

Burial was in the Monticello Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Monticello Cemetery Association. Arrangements are with Arnold’s Funeral Home in Canton, Mo.

Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldsfuneral home.net