GEORGE STERLING SMITH

George Sterling Smith was born in Ethel, MS, on Jan. 12, 1912, to the late Mattie Ashford Smith and Will Smith. He passed away at the home of his daughter in Prairie Village, KS, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, at the age of 95. Mr. Smith was a long time resident of Holts Summit, MO, and then Jefferson City, MO. He was a twenty-nine year civilian employee of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and then worked an additional twelve years as a doorman for the Missouri House of Representatives. He was a Past Master of Capital City Masonic Lodge No. 9, Jefferson City; a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite member of Queen City Consistory No. 109, Jefferson City; and was a member of Paris Fork United Methodist Church. Mr. Smith was married on Feb. 19, 1938, in Jefferson City to Maureen Glover who died on March 8, 1990. With the support of family and friends, George and Maureen operated Georges Rib Station in Holts Summit from 1947 to 1967. Most people who lived in and around Jefferson City during that time are familiar with the restaurant. During this twenty year period, some of the finest barbeque and other food was served by George and Maureen Smith. The food, and equally important, the service, achieved legendary status. Even today, people still long for some of Georges barbeque. George Smith unselfishly helped people throughout his life and remained active in the Jefferson City community until moving to Prairie Village, KS, in 2006 to be closer to his son and daughter. There is no finer example of a person who lived his entire life by treating others the way that he wanted to be treated with honesty, dignity, and respect. Thats how he began his life and that is how it ended. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maureen Glover Smith, and two sons, George and Roger. He is survived by a daughter, Wilma Smith, Prairie Village, KS; a son, Louis Smith (Sharon), Leawood, KS; a granddaughter, Patricia Smith, and great-grandson, Christopher Smith, Lawrence, KS; and a grandson, Dwayne Smith (Richele) and great-grandson Colin Smith, Lees Summit, MO. He was loved by his surviving Glover family brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews; and by his nephew, Arnold Parks (Lennette), Jefferson City, and their family; and by a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Burial will be in Longview Cemetery. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor's choice. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.