Jim was born February 3, 1922, in Kirksville, Missouri, to Dee and Della Beeler Smith. After graduation from Kirksville High School, he served in the Army Air Corp from 1940 to 1945. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and served in the Pacific, European, and North African theaters flying 52 missions in B-24 aircraft. After the war, Jim settled in Pekin and worked at the Keystone Steel and Wire Company for 35 years, retiring in 1982. Always active, he routinely enjoyed wood working, camping, fishing, square dancing, and golf.
Jim was married to Jewel L. “Judy” Martin from 1945 until her death in 1997. He is survived by his partner of 20 years, Karen Merritt and her extended family; two sons, James Thomas (Cherry) and Nick Lee (Karen Kirkhart); three grandchildren; and multiple nieces and nephews.
His visitation will be at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2022, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m., at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, 500 N. 4th St., Pekin IL. Pastor Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will then follow at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Air Force and the Tazewell Military Rites Team. A reception will be held after the burial service at Preston-Hanley at 3 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O Box 10393, Chicago, IL 60610.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
