J. Hugh Smith

Mr. Smith was born June 24, 1934, the adopted son of Attorney R. P. Smith and Vernia May Smith. A 1952 graduate of Central High School, he was a member of the National Honor Society and won several district and state oratorical contests. He attended Southeast Missouri State and Washington universities for a total of four years.

For 32 years, Smith served as a paralegal for his father. During the 1950s he was an avid investor in the stock market and had his own stock exchange ticker in his office. He was active in politics, including running for the office of Common Pleas Clerk in 1970. From 1971 to 1996, he was also a licensed real estate broker. From 1976 to 1980 he owned and operated Memory Lane Antiques on Broadway, after which he specialized in the mail order sale of paper antiques.

Mr. Smith was active in music endeavors. In 1956 he had the only known pipe organ in a Cape Girardeau home. He was a past member of the board of directors of the former Cape Girardeau Symphony Orchestra and the Community Concert Association. He served as an organist at Centenary Methodist Church and headed the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists in the late 1950s.

He married Nancy Jane Evans in 1958. In 1972, he married Patricia Ann Heath. He is survived by his wife, Patricia of Cape Girardeau, and daughters, Susan C. Smith of Cape Girardeau, Ashley M. Smith of Dallas.

He is also survived by two of his sons from his first marriage, Craig A. Smith of Ozark, Mo., and Paul B. Smith of Springfield, Mo. He is also survived by his sister, Ann Young of New Braunfels, Texas. After a forty year search for his birth family, he found he also had a half sister, attorney Betty Bryant of California.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Mark D. Smith, both of his parents and his half brother, E. Ray Strunk. According to Mr. Smith's wishes, his body was donated to the Washington University School of Medicine and no formal service will be held.

Anyone who wishes to make donations may do so to the Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing.

McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.