Keith E. Smothers, 71, of Julian, Calif., died Monday, March 15, 2010.
He was born May 14, 1938, in Parsons, to Reginald and Alberta McDonald Smothers. He attended elementary school in Centerville and graduated from high school in Humboldt, where he met his wife, Elizabeth Tilman. He attended Northern Montana College and the University of Minnesota.
From a young teenager to 1972, he worked in the railroad industry, starting with Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, then Great Northern and ending as a traveling auditor for Burlington Northern. He devoted the next 10 years to being a full-time minister for the Church of Christ, teaching the gospel in Montana, Arizona and Alabama.
In 1982, he started a new career with AT&T in Julian. It was there he put to use the first class radio operator license that he obtained at age 11 by traveling alone to Kansas City, Mo., to take the examination. He retired from AT&T in 1994 in order to assist his wife in the operation of the Julian Pie Company.
He was passionate about flying his airplane and was an active member of Vintage Mooney Club. His lifelong enthusiasm for flying allowed him his last solo long-distance flight six weeks ago.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; five children, Joni Smothers, Montgomery, Ala., David, Dan and Tim and his wife, Brandi, Julian, and Amy Shaw, Las Vegas, Nev.; two sisters, Judy Anderson, Gardner, and Genell Smothers, Leawood; and seven grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Young Eagles program at givewingstoeaa.org/take-flight.
Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service, Ramona, Calif., were in charge of arrangements.
Keith Smothers
