Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, Feb 1, 1997
GENE EARL SMITH

Funeral services for Gene Earl Smith who died Jan. 20, 1997 were conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 1997 at the Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk St., Rock Springs. Graveside funeral services and interment were conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 1997 at the Kimball Cemetery in Kimball, Neb.

Smith, 73, of 1209 Main St., Reliance, died at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 1997 at his home in Reliance.

According to Sweetwater County Coroner, Dale S. Majhanovich, Smith was found dead at his home at about 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, 1997. Smith died of apparent natural causes. A resident of Reliance for the past 30 years, former resident of Rock Springs, and former longtime resident of Pine Bluffs, Smith died following a lengthy illness.

He was born Oct. 18, 1923 in Dix, Neb., the son of the late Ephraim M. and Minnie O. Taylor Smith. Smith attended schools in Kimball and Bushnell, Neb., and was a graduate of Bushnell High School with the class of 1942.

Smith worked as hot plant operator for Lewis and Lewis Construction for many years until his retirement in 1988.

He was a member of the VFW Club and the American Legion Archie Hay Post 24.

Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Gene Paul and Pati L. Smith of Green River, Richard Owen and Manda Smith of Fountain, Colo., and Jon Marc and Ren’ee Smith of Casper; two brothers, Donald Forrest Smith of Carpenter and Clarence Ephraim Smith of Pine Bluffs; three sisters, Ina May Settlemire and Phyllis Irene Settlemire, both of Riverton, and Opal June Montgomery of Chadron, Neb.; four grandchildren, Tony Smith of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Leslie Smith of Green River, Kaylie Smith of Fountain and Kianna Smith of Casper; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Smith was preceded in death by four sisters, Beula Pearl Nevius, Naomi Marie Baur, Verra Bernice Sanders and Mildred Elizabeth Brothers.