Patrick Moody Smith was born the eighth of nine children to Charles and Marie Ellis Smith on Feb. 19, 1939, in Boise, Idaho. He died Aug. 31, 2023, at his home in Beloit, Kansas, surrounded by family, at the age of 84.
Pat lived in various Kansas towns during his childhood. He moved to Esbon, Kansas in 1955 to make his home with his sister and family, Mary Lou and Raymond Griffith. He graduated from Esbon High School in 1958. Pat joined the US Army after graduation and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He was united in marriage to LaNeta Hollern on June 25, 1960. To this union were born six children: Patrick, Shannon, Sharla, Darren, Todd and Shelly. Pat graduated from Pittsburg State College in 1971. He worked for several years with students with disabilities, first at Lakemary Center in Paola, Kansas, and later at MJL in Beloit, Kansas. In 1980, Pat began driving for Dahlsten Truck Line of Clay Center, Nebraska. Pat retired in 2005, after 25 years of service. He then enjoyed driving for local farmers during harvest.
Pat was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the American Legion of Esbon. He did volunteer work wherever it was needed. Pat enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, slot machines and “Spider Solitaire” on the computer. He loved his family and was proud of all of them. He attended all the children’s and grandchildren’s activities when possible. He even learned to enjoy “volleyball.” He loved working in his yard and spent hours mowing his “back 40.” Pat was known for his sense of humor. He had a good story to tell (sometimes more than once) and could visit for hours. He knew how to laugh and enjoy life.
Pat and LaNeta moved to Beloit in November of 2015 and became members of the St. John’s Catholic Church. Pat was happy to be closer to all the family but missed his Esbon friends.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents; seven sisters, Nellie Marie and Ruth Maxine who died in infancy, Rose Marie Johns, Betty West, June Elstun, Dorothy Haendler, Mary Lou Griffith; brother, George Smith and special brother-in-law, Raymond Griffith.
He leaves to mourn his wife, LaNeta, of the home; sons, Patrick Smith and wife, Julie, of Pittsburg, Kansas, Darren Smith and wife, Jan, of Topeka, Kansas, Todd Smith and wife, Marci, of Enterprise, Kansas; daughters, Shannon Williams and husband, Steven, of Maize, Kansas, Sharla Broeckelman and husband, Mike, of Beloit, Kansas, Shelly Graff and husband, Stacy, of Maize, Kansas; 34 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters-in law Carol Foy of Udall, Kansas, Dolores Wassenberg of Marysville, Kansas, Donna K. Hollern of Columbus, Kansas; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.
Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m., Friday, Sept.15 at the Roberts Funeral Home. A Rosary will be said at the Roberts Funeral Home at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon. Inurnment will be in the St. Elizabeth Cemetery south of Esbon with military honors by the Esbon American Legion Post and members of the honor guard from Fort Riley.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Community Center in Esbon.
Condolences may be left at http://www.robertsfamilyfs.com
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