"Jan, I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you."
In loving memory of
Raymond W. Smothers
October 11, 1941 - September 30, 2021
Raymond W. Smothers, age 79 of Colfax, passed away on Thursday September 30, 2021 at his home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 10:30 am at the Howard Street Christian Church. Burial will take place at Colfax Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax. Memorials may be directed to the Colfax Fire Association and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The son of James Louis and Esther(Sammon) Smothers, Ray was born on October 11, 1941 at Grinnell Community Hospital. He graduated from Millersburg High School. Ray was a salesman at heart having spent many years selling MoorMan's Feed in Jasper, Dallas, Hardin and Jefferson counties. He also spent time in construction, and trucking. He retired from Cramer Construction in 2006. He then continued to work part time at Farm Service to keep his connections with the farmers in the area. Ray loved having his family visit and watching all of his grandchildren and then his great grandchildren grow. If you were looking for Ray in these last years, you would find him watching westerns on TV or hanging on his front porch with Jan and his cherished neighborhood "porch family" and waving at every car passing by.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife Janice "Jan" Keenan; children, Cindy (Mark) Irvin of Waukee, Connie (Rusty) Smothers Richardson of Waukee, Louis (Julie) Smothers of Waukee, Shawn (Amy) Smothers of Waukee and Megan (Jeff) Tindle of Montezuma; grandchildren, Amber (Edwin) Harris, Christopher (Kaurissa) Irvin, Lance (Taylor Woebbbeking) Irvin, Joshua (Becca) Ellis, Richie Richardson, Ethan Smothers, Austin Smothers, Nathan Smothers, Brooke Smothers, Abby Smothers, Gavin Tindle, Sawyer Tindle and Peyton Tindle; great grandchildren, Cade Harris, Deven Harris, Breeya Harris, Eleanor Irvin, Jasper Irvin and Paisley Riddle. Also surviving are his siblings, Bill (Charlene) Smothers of Marshalltown, Bud (Carole) Smothers of Grinnell and Ed Smothers of Newton; sisters-in-law, Virginia Smothers of Montezuma, Linda Kaye Smothers of Newton, and Pat Smothers of Montezuma; brothers-in-law, Bill (Ruth Ann) Robson of Linden and Joe (Joy) Robson of Colfax; sister-in-law, Caren (Phil) Clevenger of Newton; mother-in-law, Coleen Robson of Ankeny and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Ray in death were his parents, a son, Lester; brothers, Fred Smothers, Jack Smothers and James Smothers; niece, Jodie Gallager; nephews, Todd Hess and Wesley Robson, and father-in-law, Wilber Robson.
Raymond's Funeral Link:
https://vimeo.com/624803895
Tributes
"P9of3"
"Ray was one of the ?good guys??.a doting father..grandfather..great grandfather?. sibling...husband and friend. He was always right there to lend a helping hand..enjoy a spirited conversation or make you laugh! He was on the quiet side when you first got to know him..but his genuine and warm personality came through with his stories and jokes. I was lucky to get to know him when he came into Jan?s life and I saw the joy that he brought to her and her family. He will be truly be missed but his incredible spirit will live on through stories and memories. Rest In Peace dear friend. Condolences to his wonderful family."
"I am so sorry to hear of Ray's passing. Hopefully he has at peace now."
"Our sympathy and prayers go to the entire Smother's family. Susan and I both thought a great deal of Ray. He was a kind and outgoing person who always made us feel welcome..... Tom & Susan Weeks"