×

DEWAIN CLAIR SMITH

Dewain Clair “Joe” Smith , 86, of Bellview, Missouri, passed away Oct. 1, 2019 at Mercy Hospital South, St. Louis, Missouri. He was born at home on July 13, 1933, to the late Bethel and Denetta (Schultz) Smith, in Alpena County. He was the third of 16 children.

Dewain enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 and went on to serve at many locations, including Stewart AFB, New York; Craig AFB, Alabama; Clark AFB, Philippines; Eglin AFB, Florida; Ubon and Udorn, Thailand during the Vietnam conflict; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant out of K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan after 26 years of dedicated service.

Dewain was a jet aircraft mechanic with many specialty aircrafts, including the T-28 Trojan; T-33A Shooting Star; F-102A Delta Dagger; F-100D Super Sabre; B-57B Canberra; F-4C, F-4D and F-4E Phantom II; and the F-106A Delta Dart.

In September 1954, Dewain married Donna Mackey. They had and raised five children as they followed the military around the country and the globe.

Dewain enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting deer, fox squirrel, snowshoe rabbit and ptarmigan. One of his most memorable hunts was when he was flown into a remote Alaskan mountain location for a week and bagged a full rack bull caribou with its antlers still in velvet.

He loved fishing for mackerel and tuna, bass and trout, and King Salmon. He also loved camping and spent much time traveling and seeing many of our country’s state and national parks with his family.

Dewain is survived by his children: Stewart Smith of Alpena, Denetta Watson of Lachine, Jeffery Smith of Alpena, Gwen Smith of Bellview, Missouri, and Annette (Rick) Carstens of Ossineke; 15 grandchildren: Cheryl, Shannon, Andrew, Buddy, Ira, Cody, Clifford, Jamie, Rachel, Wayne, Samuel, Isaac, Luke, Azor and Noah; 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, Donna Mackey of Alpena; sisters Dolores Stevens, Dixie Winters, Darleen Cardwell and Phyllis Summers; brothers

Bethel Jr., Leeland, Charles and Kevin.

Dewain was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Donna Stoinski Smith; former son-in-law Terry Watson and former son-in-law Terry Arlt. He was also preceded in death by sisters Betty Skiba, Lela Golbeck and Karen Hobby; as well as brothers James(infant), Thomas(infant), Donald and Gerald.

Arrangements for cremation are being handled by C.Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Park Hills, Missouri. Dewain wished for his ashes to be spread near his favorite fishing holes in Missouri and in Michigan. A local memorial service is being planned for the future.