Howard Monroe Smith

Howard Monroe Smith, age 92, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away on March 4, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, surrounded by his family.

Born on March 9, 1933, in Liberal, Missouri, Howard was the youngest of seven children born to Ralph and Verla (Reed) Smith. He graduated from Liberal High School with the Class of 1951 and served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, including 16 months in Korea. For 35 years, he worked as a truck driver for Safeway Stores in Kansas City, Kansas, while also maintaining a lifelong passion for farming and raising cattle.

His greatest love was the Lord, followed closely by his family, his horse Billy, water skiing, raising cattle, and sharing stories. A gifted storyteller, Howard often recounted his time in Korea when he and four friends from Barton County shared Thanksgiving dinner together, as well as memories of driving his mother—who had been his teacher for four years—to school each morning during grade school. He was honored with the FFA State Farmer Award in 1951, received four awards during his Army service, and earned a 32-year Safe Driver Award. After retiring in 1990, he devoted his time to farming and his family.

Howard married Erma Lea Harper on August 6, 1953, at the Christian Church in Lamar, Missouri. They raised three children together—Tim, Kim, and Mike—and lived in the Kansas City area until returning to the Lamar area in 1978. Erma passed away in October 1986. On August 19, 1989, he married Joanna Rae (Foster) Cross, gaining two stepsons, Jon (Christine) Cross and Mark (Marilyn) Cross, and two stepdaughters, Diana (Robert) Enright and Karen Cross (Sam Eldridge), along with several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Joanna passed away in May 2020.

He is survived by his son Mike Smith and wife Beverly of Lamar, Missouri; his daughter Kim Smith of Springfield, Missouri; and four grandchildren, Grant Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, Grett Smith of Springfield, Missouri, and Mallory and Madelyn Smith, both of Lamar. Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Erma; his second wife, Joanna; his son Tim Smith; five sisters, Sue Williams, Irma Mae Ledford, Beth Rader, Marlyn Sauerwein, and Marie Howard; and two brothers, Jim Smith and Reed Smith.