Prayers for the repose of the soul of Gene Smith

The prayer of the Diocese are requested for the repose of the soul of Gene Smith, father of Bishop Michael Smith, who died this morning (May 20) in Oklahoma.


Please also keep in your prayers Bishop Smith and his family.

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord:
and let light perpetual shine upon him.


May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace and rise in glory.


The obituary and funeral information for Harold Gene Smith, Bishop Smith's father, follows:


Harold Gene Smith
July 29, 1935 - May 20, 2011

Harold Gene Smith passed from this world on May 20, 2011 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.

He was born at his home in Byars, Oklahoma on July 29, 1935, the oldest of three children. Gene lived on his family farm in Byars until his junior year in high school when he moved to Purcell, Oklahoma from where he graduated. He attended both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Gene worked as a conductor for the Burlington Northern / Santa Fe Railroad for 42 years and retired with his family in Pauls Valley in 1997. He attended and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley. Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Frank M. and Doris Milford Smith.

He is survived by his wife Mary Jernigan Smith and his children and their spouses; Rt. Rev. Michael Smith and his wife the Rev. Lisa, David Smith and his wife Julie, Diane Fredell and her husband John, Lisa Campbell and her husband Doug, and Jack Hobson. Gene was also the loving grandfather of 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Bettye Smith and Frank D. Smith. Gene was an avid golfer and gardener and loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed many sports, cheered the OSU Cowboys, but most importantly he supported the State of Oklahoma. Gene was a supportive spouse and loved each of his five children. Also, he loved all of the students and staff of Whitebead School.

Services for Gene will be at the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley at 10:00am on Wednesday, May 25th followed by interment at the Whitebead Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given in Gene’s name to the Valley Hospice of Pauls Valley General Hospital, P.O. Box 368, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, 73075, 1-800-738-6142.

The Reverend Jamie A. Parsley, SCP
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota