James life began on October 12, 1934 in El Dorado. He is the son of Clyde H. and Georgia M. (Copeland) Smith. James was united in marriage to the former Mary Lou Ireland on March 16, 1952 at First Baptist Church, El Dorado. James was a welder and pipefitter, spending most of his career working for Kendall, Inc. and Piping and Equipment Co, Inc. He was a member of Local 441 Plumbers and Pipefitters in Wichita. Outside of work, James enjoyed hunting from the time he was a young boy, trap shooting, and teaching kids how to shoot through 4-H. He was a member of Patmos Lodge #97 Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Royal Arch. James served as Master of the Patmos Lodge in 1968. His greatest joy was his family which includes his wife of 65 years Mary Lou Smith of Burns; children Margaret “Maggie” (Cliff Orr) Highbarger of El Dorado and Jim (Pam) Smith of Toronto; grandchildren Glenn (Tia), Jorja, Amy (Chris), Casey James (Tomia), Christie, Jeff, Jeromy, Kaiden and Jaykob; great grandchildren Gavin, Conner, Taylor, Brianna, Kaylie and Rachael; his brother Frank Smith and several nieces and nephews. James passed away on Sunday January 21, 2018 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Don Smith and sister Valoris Fine. His family will gather with friends on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Carlson Colonial Funeral Home for his memorial service led by Pastor Wade Graber. Memorial contributions in James name may be directed to Graber Ministries or the New Challenger Sunday School Class. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of James at www.carlsoncolonial.com.

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