Smith, Lyle Allen

Lyle Allen Smith

Born Nov. 3, 1996 in Fairfax, MO

Died Apr. 12, 2012

Lyle A. Smith was born on November 3, 1966, at Fairfax, to Lyle E. and Nadine R. Smith.

Lyle grew up working for his Dad at Smith\\\'s Sawmill. He was a 1985 graduate of Craig RIII School and at the age of 18 began college at NWMSU. In his freshman year, Lyle felt pain in his neck and was subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin\\\'s Lymphoma. He underwent treatment only to experience a recurrence of the disease one year later. During his hospital sty, his future bride stayed by his side and read the Bible to him daily. He didn\\\'t know it at the time, but her actions would be God\\\'s instrument to change the course of his life. By God\\\'s grace, Lyle walked out of the hospital following a lengthy hospital stay from which his physicians advised he would not survive. Lyle continued to work with his Dad at Smith\\\'s Sawmill.

He was married to Gina Howard on Sept. 12, 1987, and they resided in the Big Lake area. In 1989 Lyle started Midwest Wood-N-Pallet Inc. out of his Dad\\\'s shop until 1993, when he built a new building at their home near Big Lake. Lyle and Gina owned and operated The Shake Shack, a seasonal restaurant at Big Lake State Park during this period. Because of lingering illnesses, Lyle moved out of the pallet and sawmill business and secured his real estate license. He also started a small outdoor advertising business. But his real love was ministry. From those early days in the hospital when Gina read the Scriptures to him, Lyle had a growing love for the study and teaching of the Bible. He eventually had the privilege of pastoring the Whitesville Baptist Church in Whitesville, Mo., from 2000 to 2006. He loved preaching and ministering God\\\'s Word to that congreagation. There are many who can testify to his faithfulness. Even after he left the pastorate, he took many opportunities to shart God\\\'s Word whenever and wherever he could. At heart he was an evangelist who sought to bring the Gospel to those he encountered. Even at the end of his life while he was in his last hospital stay, he requested that his friends pray that he might speak to those who were attending him about Christ and his saving work.

Due to the treatment he underwent for his cancer, he began experiencing physical problems and eventually was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This heart failure subsequently ended his life on April 17, 2012.

Lyle was preceded in death by his father, Lyle E. Smith.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Gina G. Smith, Woodbridge, Virginia, mother, Nadine Smith, sister, Rhonda Krueger (Husband Jim), brother, Donnie Smith (wife Karra), sister, Vicki Pruch (husband Dan), Omaha, Nebraska, several nieces and nephews.

Services were held on Tuesday at the Christian Fellowship Church,, Mound City, Mo.
Interment: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Craig, Mo.
Source: Times Observer (Oregon, MO) Thursday, April 26, 2012, page 2.

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