Gary Smith

Gary Marshall Smith, 73, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014, at his home in Topeka.

Gary was born Aug. 11, 1940, to James and Neva (Bates) Smith and attended schools in Wichita and Searcy, Ark. He served in the Navy on the destroyer USS John Paul Jones, and was honorably discharged in 1961. He then began his career as a real estate appraiser for Cole, Layer, and Trumble, Co., doing mass appraisals in several states.

While working in Allen County, Gary met Delores Werner of Kincaid whom he married on April 2, 1965. During their happy 49 years together, they had one son and two daughters, Tracy Smith (Venesa), Topeka, Teresa Smith, Overland Park, Tiffany Smith-Traub (Nicholas), Lenexa, and three grandchildren, Kristie (Matt) Campbell, Cameron and Casey.

Gary served as the Allen County Appraiser from 1976 to 1982, and served as Shawnee County Appraiser from 1982 to 1992. He then joined the Kansas Dept. of Revenue and also opened his own private appraisal agency, Kansas Appraisal Service. He served as president of the Kansas County Appraisers Association, 1982-1983.

In addition to his immediate family, Gary is survived by his sisters, Rosalie Thomas, Wichita, Gwen Sandefur, Wichita, and Marcia Mowrer, Monticello, Ark. His extended family includes his mother-in-law, Mary Werner, Bronson; Tom Werner, Russell; Leo and Vicki Werner, Newton; Leona Werner, Chanute; Sheryl Werner, Parsons; Lyle Osborn, Lenexa; Gary Hammer, Williamsburg, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Jeanette Hammer.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel in Topeka. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the DAV No. 3, P.O. Box 67684, Topeka, KS 66667.

To leave the family a special message online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.