Hollis H. Smith

Hollis H. Smith, 91, Independence, MO entered his Heavenly home Nov. 21, 2017. Services will be 10 am, Monday, Nov. 27 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Committal services with Full Military Honors will follow at 1 pm at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-5 pm, Sunday at the chapel. Hollis was born May 28, 1926 in Cassville, MO, the son of Linzie and Mattie (Robbins) Smith. He attended school in Exeter, MO. He started work at Sears & Roebuck before being drafted into the U.S. Army. During WW II he served in the Big Red 1 Infantry, starting at the Battle of the Bulge and ending as a guard for the Nuremburg Trials. After being discharged, he returned to Sears where he met and later married the love of his life, Lola Nation. They have two children Hollis “Gene” Eugene and Linda Jane. He retired from Sears with forty years of service. He was a charter member of Bethel Baptist Church, having served there for forty-seven years prior to transferring to Country Meadow Baptist Church. Hollis was preceded in death by his parents, brother Harold Smith and sister Grace Keeran. He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Lola Smith; son Gene Smith and wife Sandy, Fayette, MO; daughter Linda Miley and husband Brendan, Independence, MO; grandchildren David Miley and wife Cody, Jonathan Miley and wife Crystal, Joshua Miley, Douglas Smith and wife Emily and Trisha Lewis and husband Randy; twelve great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter sister Norine Jones and brother-in-law Dewey Holst.