Cover photo for Everett Smith's Obituary
1930 Everett 2021

Everett Smith

April 18, 1930 — September 10, 2021

Obituary of Everett W. Smith

Everett Walter Smith (Smitty), 91, of Canon City, Colorado died Friday, September 10, 2021 at his home in Canon City.

Funeral arrangements are being made by Hutchins Funeral Home Franklin, Nebraska with cremation services being handled by Harwood Funeral Home, Canon City, Colorado. Graveside services and inurnment with military honors will be held Friday, October 1st, 2021 at Maple Grove Cemetery, Bloomington, Nebraska.

Everett was born April 18. 1930 in Franklin, Nebraska to Arthur Wentworth Smith and Ada May (Barker) Smith. He was the youngest of six children born to this union. He attended Franklin public schools and graduated with the Class of 1948. Life was hard for the family due to the death of his father in July 1936. Immediately after high school, Smitty began working for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. He told many stories about his experiences there, including the winter of 1948-1949, when the snow drifts were so high he could walk right up the drifts to the top of the telephone poles to put the wires back up.

Smitty served his country during the Korean Conflict as a radio operator in France and was proud to be a veteran of the United States Army. On September 19, 1954, Smitty married the love of his life, Ione Marie Carlson, in Franklin, Nebraska. In 1955, he and Ione moved to Grand Island, Nebraska to further his career with the telephone company as his experiences during the Korean Conflict helped with his endeavors. In 1962, they moved to Omaha, Nebraska and by 1966, Smitty was employed with Ma Bell Telephone company in New York City with his office being in the World Trade Center #5. He was offered early retirement in 1987 and he and Ione moved to Canon City, Colorado as he had promised Ione that they would live within a day’s drive of her family.

They loved to travel and had traveled to 43 states and 7 Canadian provinces in their motorhomes. Smitty loved visiting places in Colorado and giving people his opinion of those places to people he met while working in the local tourist booths. He loved the Rocky Mountains and shared this passion with his family and friends. He enjoyed fishing at Lake O’Haver near Poncha Springs. He loved to watch the hot air balloons and even learned how to pilot one. Smitty supported the local VFW in Canon City and came back almost every years to participate in Memorial Day activities in Bloomington and Franklin.

Smitty was a loyal and loving husband to Ione and nursed her through years of dementia until the time came to move her to Skyline Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He visited Ione every day until her death in 2013.

Smitty was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ione; and five siblings: Elford, Lydia Whyman, Isaac (Mel), Newton, and Zelma Schachterle. Left to mourn his passing are nieces and nephews, Frank (Anne) Smith, Peggy (Larry) Hughes, Sandra McCullough, Randy Schachterle, Steve Schachterle, Gordon (Teresa) Carlson, Jeannene (Brian) Olson and their son Jon, Nancy Carlson, and Arlene Carlson; as well as neighbor and close friends Larry and Erin Hoffman and their family.

Graveside services and inurnment will be held 2:00pm Friday, October 1st, 2021 at Maple Grove Cemetery, Bloomington, Nebraska. Military rites will be conducted by the US Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post No. 145, Bloomington.

Tribute to Ione Marie Carlson Smith

Ione Marie Smith passed away at the Skyline Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Canon City, Colorado on April 19, 2013. She was born July 11, 1916 to Oren J. and Emma H. E. (Hansen) Carlson in Waverly, Nebraska. At a young age she moved to Bloomington, Nebraska. She attended Sunny Hill and Ground Hog rural schools and graduated from Bloomington High School in 1935. In 1944, she was employed by the Nebraska Continental Telephone & Telegraph Co. and became Chief Operator and Business Office Administrator.

On September 19, 1954 Ione was united in marriage to Everett W. Smith at the First Methodist Church in Franklin, Nebraska. In February of 1955, they moved to Grand Island as her husband was employed by American Telephone & Telegraph Co. there she was employed by Northwestern Bell for a short time. She moved with her husband to Omaha in 1962, to New Jersey in 1966 and, after retirement, to Canon City, Colorado in 1987.

Ione was a member of the Tip Toppers Extension Club, Golden Age Center, Good Sam RV Club and Life member of the VFW Auxiliary. She was a 4 H leader, Sunday school teacher and enjoyed working as a Volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Friendly Visitors, Chamber of Commerce Tourist Cabins and other organizations.

Some of her favorite activities were fishing, catching Blue Crabs, gathering seashells, flower gardening and doing craft projects like candle making. Ione especially loved touring in the RV, visiting 43 states and 7 Canadian provinces.

Survivors are her loving husband of 58 years, ten nieces and five nephews. Ione was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Arnold and Robert; three sisters, Marjorie, Vera and Hilda. She was laid to rest in Maple Grove cemetery, Bloomington, Nebraska.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Everett Smith, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Graveside Service

Friday, October 1, 2021

Starts at 2:00 pm

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