Steven Smithers

Steven Adair Smithers, 71, passed away August 13, 2016. Steven was born October 3, 1944 in Kansas City, MO, the son of Adair Aust and Shirley (Tucker) Gwin. He was raised by his grandparents, Warren T. Smithers "Pop" and Edna A. Smithers "Mom”. Steve was a “man’s man”, a man of character, active, energetic, and a daredevil willing to take chances….just for the fun of it! Above all, he was a man who had a deep love for his family. People thought twice about doing wrong to a family member….if they did, they did so at their peril. In his youth he was a baseball player, fast on his feet! He loved playing short stop, throwing and catching balls that would be the envy of major league baseball players today. He was equally amazing at bat!  Later on in life he had the joy of coaching his son, Steve Smithers Jr..in little league. He rode dirt bikes and raced cars….even got in the boxing ring a few times! He was fearless and loved the rush of taking chances. In high school all the girls wanted to date him and the guys respected him as one of the toughest guys in school. He may have been short in stature but those of us who knew him thought of him as 6 ft. 6! He loved music and loved to dance, it was in his blood. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as corpsman and retained remarkable knowledge of medicine. In his early years, he worked for Culligan and was responsible for encouraging his brother, Terry Sr. to start his own business over 40years ago. He then went on to become a very valuable employee to Ferguson Enterprises, a large plumbing supplier until he retired. He spent over 17 years living in the country in Kingsville, Missouri…where he raised his step-daughter, Kamber. He had several horses and spent many years teaching his children how to ride and take care of them. He loved to shoot guns….he was the best instinct shooter. He taught his children as well as nieces and nephews how to properly shoot a gun. He was big into RC cars (anything he could race really) and spent a lifetime building them with his son Stevie. He took such pride in Stevie’s hobbies, going to watch him drag race his motorcycles and race bicycles. He taught his daughter Kristie how to ride a bike, to ride a horse, and how to drive a car. Most importantly he taught her how to be tough…how to protect herself and how to be strong and independent. He was so very proud of his first born grandson, Zackary Adair Smithers. He was always a remarkable source of wisdom and knowledge to our entire family and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him….

Survivors include his wife Beverly J. (Havner) Smithers, his children; Steven R. Smithers Jr. (Patti), Kristine R. Smithers, (their mother, Cheryl L. Garley), Andrew Bennett (Candy), Melanie A. Acre-Zabel, Kamber Frost (Thom), Matthew Denham, Melissa Pfannenstiel (Chirs), his step-father, Bill Gwin, his uncle, James Aust (Jana), siblings; Terry Gwin Sr. (Bonnie), Candice Gwin (Cindy Smith), Tim Gwin (Angie); his siblings, Jamie L. Stamper, Jana L. Madonna, Dana L. DeFore, Christopher S. Aust, Kristi Tucker;  grandchildren, Zackary Adair Smithers, Thera Bennett, Blake Lewis, Taylor Diehl, Logan Zabel, Isaiah Simmons, Matthew Frost, Oakley Frost, Harry Frost, Nick and Max Pfannenstiel, his nieces and nephews, Emily, Katy & Taylor Gwin and Terry Gwin Jr.

---