Elery Leroy Smith, age 86, of Guys Mills, died April 19, at Marquette Hospice House, Meadville.
He was born on August 20, 1927 in Black Ash. He was the son of Elmer and Irene Walker Smith. He married Florence Bumpus Smith on November 10, 1951.
He was a 4th generation dairy farmer for over 60 years, in partnership with his wife Florence and son Keith. He also drove school bus for Cochranton schools for many years.
He was an active member of the Sugar Lake United Methodist Church, where he served in many roles. He and his wife were board members for Black Ash Cemetery, where his wife is interred.
In his younger years, he enjoyed baseball, playing for the Black Ash team. He declined recruitment offers to play baseball in favor of leading a family oriented life in the country with his wife Florence. He will be remembered for his soft spoken manner, kind and generous heart, steadfast faith in God, and an overwhelming love for his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife Florence, who passed away on May 21, 2008, after 56 years of marriage.
He is survived by his four children: Noreen Sayers of Bradleytown, Keith Smith of Cooperstown, Cheryl Thomas and her husband David, of Guys Mills, and David Smith and his wife Deborah, of Duarte, California. Nine grandchildren, Jameson Walker and his wife Kristin, Sarah Mattocks and her husband Alex, Tavis Sayers and his wife Stacey, Zachary Smith, Nathaniel Smith, Elizabeth Baker and her husband Brent, Andrew Cervone and his wife Alynn, Jordan Smith and Taylor Smith. Nine great-grandchildren, Jaiben Walker, Justice Walker, Judson Walker, Jackson Mattocks, Jillian Mattocks, Isaiah Sayers, Alexia Sayers, Grace Cervone, and Sophia Baker, and a new great-grandson due in May, Asher Sayers.
He is also survived by his sisters Alice Marie (Peg) Messerall of Meadville, and Linda Vaughn and her husband Bill, of Paris, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister Mildred Brown, and brothers Howard Smith, Walter Smith, and Gaylord Smith and a son in law, Thomas Sayers.
Friends may call at the Dickson Family Funeral Home, Inc., 123 S.Franklin St., Cochranton, on April 22 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Funeral services will be held April 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, with Frank Weingard, pastor of Sugar Lake United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Black Ash Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Sugar Lake United Methodist Church, 6680 Sugar Lake Rd. Cochranton, PA 16314 or to the Elery Smith Memorial Gift at the Marquette Hospice House, c/o Crawford County Hospice, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.