ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Gene Boyd Smith 90 years old , born on February 8, 1929 and passed away on February 15, 2019. We will remember him forever. This site will be up forever as will our memories. 

April 7, 2019
April 7, 2019
Dear Smith family,
If someone would ask me who I admired most in life, Gene Smith would be at the top of the list. A true rags to riches story. From struggling farmer to aerospace engineer. From living in a run-down farm house with no running water to a home with a swimming pool.
I am so full of wonderful memories about Gene and Barb. I am so thankful that they have been part of my life. The stories Gene would tell about Uncle Boyd and Aunt Virginia living out on the farm were priceless. Gene relayed that during World War II sugar was rationed. Boyd decided to bury his sugar to hide it from the authorities, regretfully he forgot where he buried it. This buried treasure became an urban legend and somehow the sugar was morphed to money. 
I know where Gene got his sense of humor and adventure, from his father Boyd. Boyd was a real character. His wife, Virginia was the most kind, good humored, and easy-going person on earth - she had to be to off-set her risk-taking husband. Apparently, when Gene was a young teenager and just learning to fly, his dad was in the hospital and simply checked himself out. He called Gene and told him to get in the airplane and come get him. When the young, inexperienced pilot landed in Cedar Rapids, there was Boyd at the end of the runway waiting for him. Other stories Gene told about Boyd’s adventures with the airplanes involved several crashes. According to Gene, one accident resulted in Boyd being scalped and Virginia breaking several bones. I guess you could call Boyd one lucky aviator.  I recently ran into a man at the Brooklyn nursing home (Bob Murtha) who was a pilot in WWII, I asked him why he didn’t have an airplane. He giggled and responded, “Your uncle wrecked it.”
Gene’s nickname was “Guts” he didn’t back down from a fight and he was willing to take a risk. I was home in Victor over Christmas and joined Dad’s coffee crew. One of Gene’s friends, Don Branyon was there and told the story of how Gene and his good friend in high school would get into arguments while they were in the car. Gene would pull over, the two would get out, settle their differences with a fist fight, and get back the car like nothing had happened. This happened many, many times and according to Don, Gene would win the verbal argument but fell short with the fists.
I remember going to Los Angeles as a child and going with the Smith kids to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. I especially remember one New Year’s Day when we attempted to attend the Rose Bowl Parade. The problem was that it was so foggy you couldn’t see. Gene was driving through fog with Uncle Chuck walking in front of the car guiding us through the worst. A car with a boat attached to its roof ran a light, crashed into the car in front and the boat went sailing down the street.  Once we finally arrived at the parade, it was so crowded that we couldn’t see a thing. 
Gene was the best story teller I have ever encountered.  Gene and Dad (Don) were raised more like brothers than first cousins. The best Thanksgivings I ever experienced were those when Gene, Barb, Mom, and Dad would come to celebrate. I would stand mesmerized at our island in the kitchen as Gene would entertain us with stories of Boyd, Virginia, and adventures with Dad. 
Gene and Dad’s shenanigans go way back. One time when Gene was in detention at school, and was forced to write, “I will not (fill in the blank)” 100 times on the blackboard. My Dad climbed up to the second story, clinging to the side of the building, he inched his way to the classroom, crawled in the window and helped Gene finish his punishment. The plan was foiled when the teacher walked in and saw Dad’s shoes sticking out from under her desk. 
Another Don and Gene adventure that sticks out involved a shattered windshield. Dad, Gene and Lowell Jack were on their way to a music festival in Williamsburg in Grandpa Raymond’s 1937 Chevy. For some stupid reason, Gene brought along Uncle Boyd’s loaded pistol. Lowell thought it was a toy gun, grabbed the gun and pointed it at Gene’s head. Gene knocked it away just in time, the gun went off and shattered the windshield.  They drove the car to a dealership in nearby Marengo for repairs where the owners realized there was something fishy going on and called their parents. The three teenagers made up a plausible excuse, practiced it, and convinced their parents that it was simply a rock that shattered the windshield. 
The Smith/Rohrer/Nixon Thanksgivings could not be complete without a trip downtown DC to the Air and Space Museum. Gene would show us the Minute Man Missile and explain how he was involved in its creation and why it was replaced. Even today when I am in the museum, I go pay homage to Gene and his minute man missile.
Dad and Gene, being children of the great depression could not pass up a deal and couldn’t stand throwing away something that had any life left in it. This philosophy regretfully matched perfectly with my husband, Brian. While Barb, Mom and I were off having fun at a craft fair, we gave our husbands the chore of going to the dump with strict orders, “Do not come back with more that you took!” Dad, Gene and Brian came back snickering and bragging that they had discovered the “art of dumpster diving.”
I also couldn’t throw anything away while the three were present. They were constantly pulling things our to the trash questioning why I would throw this away. At one point, I was trying to make room in the refrigerator for left over Thanksgiving dinner and threw some old grapes away. Several minutes later I spotted Dad and Gene hovering over the waste basket pulling grapes out of the trash and eating them and lamenting why I would throw this away!
These memories that I have of Gene and those he shared with me are precious; I am sorry I cannot tell them as well as the master story- teller himself. He was truly one of a kind and as Jeff said, he crossed the finish line. I like to think of him as racing across the finish line, fists pumping up in the air yelling “What a ride!”
Love,
Jane Rohrer Nixon

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April 7, 2019
April 7, 2019
Dear Smith family,
If someone would ask me who I admired most in life, Gene Smith would be at the top of the list. A true rags to riches story. From struggling farmer to aerospace engineer. From living in a run-down farm house with no running water to a home with a swimming pool.
I am so full of wonderful memories about Gene and Barb. I am so thankful that they have been part of my life. The stories Gene would tell about Uncle Boyd and Aunt Virginia living out on the farm were priceless. Gene relayed that during World War II sugar was rationed. Boyd decided to bury his sugar to hide it from the authorities, regretfully he forgot where he buried it. This buried treasure became an urban legend and somehow the sugar was morphed to money. 
I know where Gene got his sense of humor and adventure, from his father Boyd. Boyd was a real character. His wife, Virginia was the most kind, good humored, and easy-going person on earth - she had to be to off-set her risk-taking husband. Apparently, when Gene was a young teenager and just learning to fly, his dad was in the hospital and simply checked himself out. He called Gene and told him to get in the airplane and come get him. When the young, inexperienced pilot landed in Cedar Rapids, there was Boyd at the end of the runway waiting for him. Other stories Gene told about Boyd’s adventures with the airplanes involved several crashes. According to Gene, one accident resulted in Boyd being scalped and Virginia breaking several bones. I guess you could call Boyd one lucky aviator.  I recently ran into a man at the Brooklyn nursing home (Bob Murtha) who was a pilot in WWII, I asked him why he didn’t have an airplane. He giggled and responded, “Your uncle wrecked it.”
Gene’s nickname was “Guts” he didn’t back down from a fight and he was willing to take a risk. I was home in Victor over Christmas and joined Dad’s coffee crew. One of Gene’s friends, Don Branyon was there and told the story of how Gene and his good friend in high school would get into arguments while they were in the car. Gene would pull over, the two would get out, settle their differences with a fist fight, and get back the car like nothing had happened. This happened many, many times and according to Don, Gene would win the verbal argument but fell short with the fists.
I remember going to Los Angeles as a child and going with the Smith kids to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. I especially remember one New Year’s Day when we attempted to attend the Rose Bowl Parade. The problem was that it was so foggy you couldn’t see. Gene was driving through fog with Uncle Chuck walking in front of the car guiding us through the worst. A car with a boat attached to its roof ran a light, crashed into the car in front and the boat went sailing down the street.  Once we finally arrived at the parade, it was so crowded that we couldn’t see a thing. 
Gene was the best story teller I have ever encountered.  Gene and Dad (Don) were raised more like brothers than first cousins. The best Thanksgivings I ever experienced were those when Gene, Barb, Mom, and Dad would come to celebrate. I would stand mesmerized at our island in the kitchen as Gene would entertain us with stories of Boyd, Virginia, and adventures with Dad. 
Gene and Dad’s shenanigans go way back. One time when Gene was in detention at school, and was forced to write, “I will not (fill in the blank)” 100 times on the blackboard. My Dad climbed up to the second story, clinging to the side of the building, he inched his way to the classroom, crawled in the window and helped Gene finish his punishment. The plan was foiled when the teacher walked in and saw Dad’s shoes sticking out from under her desk. 
Another Don and Gene adventure that sticks out involved a shattered windshield. Dad, Gene and Lowell Jack were on their way to a music festival in Williamsburg in Grandpa Raymond’s 1937 Chevy. For some stupid reason, Gene brought along Uncle Boyd’s loaded pistol. Lowell thought it was a toy gun, grabbed the gun and pointed it at Gene’s head. Gene knocked it away just in time, the gun went off and shattered the windshield.  They drove the car to a dealership in nearby Marengo for repairs where the owners realized there was something fishy going on and called their parents. The three teenagers made up a plausible excuse, practiced it, and convinced their parents that it was simply a rock that shattered the windshield. 
The Smith/Rohrer/Nixon Thanksgivings could not be complete without a trip downtown DC to the Air and Space Museum. Gene would show us the Minute Man Missile and explain how he was involved in its creation and why it was replaced. Even today when I am in the museum, I go pay homage to Gene and his minute man missile.
Dad and Gene, being children of the great depression could not pass up a deal and couldn’t stand throwing away something that had any life left in it. This philosophy regretfully matched perfectly with my husband, Brian. While Barb, Mom and I were off having fun at a craft fair, we gave our husbands the chore of going to the dump with strict orders, “Do not come back with more that you took!” Dad, Gene and Brian came back snickering and bragging that they had discovered the “art of dumpster diving.”
I also couldn’t throw anything away while the three were present. They were constantly pulling things our to the trash questioning why I would throw this away. At one point, I was trying to make room in the refrigerator for left over Thanksgiving dinner and threw some old grapes away. Several minutes later I spotted Dad and Gene hovering over the waste basket pulling grapes out of the trash and eating them and lamenting why I would throw this away!
These memories that I have of Gene and those he shared with me are precious; I am sorry I cannot tell them as well as the master story- teller himself. He was truly one of a kind and as Jeff said, he crossed the finish line. I like to think of him as racing across the finish line, fists pumping up in the air yelling “What a ride!”
Love,
Jane Rohrer Nixon
His Life
March 27, 2019

Gene was  born on  February 8, 1929.

He grew up in the Iowa countryside in 30z & 40z , during WW1&2 . Dad was A Patriot  , A Mason an Elk a Legionnaire and a proud Army Veteran.

Gene graduated High school  in 1947. In 1948 he joined army with his best friend Gene Osborne.  Stationed in Japan 8 months then transferred to the Korean War as support troops.He Remained in army as USDA meat inspector ,  he was at a roller rink where he  met mom and they  married in 1950. 

Gene moved his family to California where he earned a degree in engineering ,and a Career in Aerospace. At Rockwell International a nuclear defense company , for 40 years,, as an Executive Engineer ,, His “Strategic systems division”had the responsibility for the Guidance of America’s minuteman nuclear arsenal

Dad Liked his coffee in morning with peanut butter on his toast and Breakfast at Johns Cafe. 

He was a Strong Family man and mentor. He Taught us values of working hard to succeed. A do it yourselfer. A great example to follow.   He Loved all his kids ,, earned a good living and at all other times, he spent his free time with family . 

Gene visited with mom almost everyday at her home nearby in palm desert . He loved his sons and daughters Nieces and nephews , grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was his Strength that helped us all thru the Recent losses of  Ken & Jayne.  

He Passed away while asleep on Valentines night ,Feb 15 2019,  painlessly & Peacefully ,,  Goodbye. We Love You.  God Bless You 

Recent stories
June 2, 2019

Sent by Vic and Phyllis Gladbach 

The story we remember the most was when Barb and Gene were traveling alot. They went on several cruises. On these cruises Gene said they always boarded in alphabetical order. One time while they were waiting to board, he told this man he thought he would just change his name to “asshole” so he could board sooner. Every time this man seen Gene on the ship, he would say! “Hi asshole, how are you?

Brian

April 12, 2019

Beyond good - bye,

there is a beautiful,

peaceful place

where memories live forever.

THINKING OF YOU


Brian, Jane, Peter and Nixon


3 Video songs

April 12, 2019

Unforgettable.  Nat king Cole 

There youll Be.   Faith Hill 

Dont Blink.    Kenny Chesney

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