Bill Owen Smith

Bill Owen Smith, 72, a Missouri resident for the past 23 years, died March 24, 2004, in Cabool, Mo. He was born Oct. 18, 1931, in McAlester, Okla., to Owen Zeno and Mabel Pound Smith.

He graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1960 with a bachelor of science degree in biology. Shortly after, he moved to Carson City, where he was a taxidermist at the Nevada State Museum for several years.

He continued his education at the University of Nevada and received an elementary school teaching certificate. He taught fifth grade for many years at the Bordewich-Bray and Fritsch elementary schools in Carson City. In the summer, he worked for the Nevada State Park system as a forest ranger at Lake Tahoe.

Mr. Smith enjoyed gardening, beekeeping, birding and his family. He was a Christian and enjoyed studying the Bible and its history.

He married Joan on April 10, 1954, in Racine, Wis.

He was a Korean War veteran.

He was preceded in death by sister-in-law, Marcy Clair Akeley; daughter-in-law Darla Woolard Smith and parents.

Among his survivors are his wife; children Marcy Lankert and Barbara Smith, both of Mountain Grove, Mo., Jennifer Smith Minnis and husband Richard of Plymouth, Calif., Bonnie Wright of Mountain Grove, Mary Shuler and husband John of Carson City, Owen Smith, Tom Smith and wife Tanya, all of Cabool and Nancy Meesey and husband Christopher of O'Fallon, Mo.; brother-in-law, David Akeley of Wilmington, Del.; 16 great-grandchildren; and two nephews.

At his request, his ashes will be scattered over Lake Tahoe.