EMPORIA - Eugene C. "Gene" Smith, 56, of Emporia, formerly of St. Paul, died at 4:32 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, at his home. He was born Oct. 11, 1948, in Parsons to Henry M. and Catherine (Maus) Smith. He grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1966. He graduated from Kansas State University at Manhattan in 1971 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Over the years he worked as a mechanical engineer for a number of companies, Hesston Implements of Hesston, Custom Forms of Neodesha and Didde Web Press of Emporia. At the time of his death he was the manager of Carpet Plus in Emporia. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Emporia and the Professional Engineering Association. He started a number of e-commerce Web sites for himself and others. He married Marcia McAtee on June 28, 1968, at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. She survives of the home in Emporia. Other survivors include three sons, Ted Smith and his wife, Shelia, of Lawrence, Christopher Smith and his wife, Diane, of Shawnee, and Greg Smith of Emporia; two grandchildren, Brendan and Amanda Smith of Shawnee; four brothers, Lon Smith of Mankato, Minn., Miles Smith of St. Paul, Jim Smith of Garnett and J.B. Smith of Kansas City, Mo.; three sisters, Clarita Bryant of Kansas City, Mo., Cathy O'Hara of Topeka and Colleen Vitek of Manteca, Calif.; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, G.W. "Short" and Eileen McAtee, both of St. Paul. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Deidra Marie Smith on July 18 1999; a brother, Larry Smith; and his parents. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. The casket will be moved to Carson-Wall Funeral Home in St. Paul, where friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, at which time he will be moved to St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church in St. Paul with the Revs. Daniel Vacca, John Oswald and Monsignor Richard Oswald officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in St. Paul. Memorials to Prairie Mission Retirement Village Chapel Fund, St. Paul or St. Francis Cemetery in St. Paul may be sent to Roberts-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, or to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.

Obituary, Parsons Sun, August 17, 2005.