Terry Gene Smith

Terry Gene Smith, 79, of Cassville passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. He entered the world on April 22, 1947. He was the first-born son of Gene and Marietta (Terry) Smith, who preceded him in death. Also, preceding him in death was his younger brother, Britt Smith. He is survived by his younger sister, Sue, and her husband Gary Britton of Dallas, Texas. 

He is survived by Rayna Smith and her husband Alex Woolbright of the Ozarks; Krista Smith and her husband John Healy along with their two children of St. Petersburg, Fla.

In his youth, he was an All-American wrestler, a summer surfer, and a football champion at Washington High School in Fremont, Calif. To avoid the draft, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1966. He attended Officer Candidate School, and was assigned to the 173rd Airborne division, as a second lieutenant. He served in Vietnam from 1967-1968, where he received a field promotion to first lieutenant. He exited the Army with an honorable discharge in 1969.

After leaving the Army, he returned home to Fresno, Calif. where he was employed as a firefighter. He married Pamela Day in 1972. Soon after, they moved to Rocky Comfort where they built the Indian Creek Greenhouse, ran summertime canoes on Mike’s Creek, and raised their daughters. 

Graveside services with military honors were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.