Jay T. Smith passed away at the St. Anthony hospital in Dodge City early on the morning of October 28th, after being confined to his bed in that hospital for the past ten weeks where he was receiving treatment for chronic heart trouble. Mr. Smith had been afflicted with this heart trouble for several years, but until the past few months had been able to be actively engaged at his occupation. Every thing that his physicians, hospital attendants, friends and relatives could do was done to relieve him of the condition that finally caused his death but relief was only temporary and it was only recently because of his strong constitution and clean living that he was able to survive as long as he did.Mr. Smith was a prominent rancher and a stockman of Comanche county and had been actively engaged in that pursuit at their ranch located in Mule Creek Valley east of Wilmore, until recent years he had been residing in Clark county.
Jay T. Smith was one of these men who stood four square to the world in his walks of life. He was one of those fellows whose word was as good as his signature, his honor was unimpeachable and he was a friend who could be depended on under any circumstance. The writer has enjoyed the privilege of a close friendship with the deceased for the past seventeen years and we with his many other friends, sorrow that he should be called from our midst while he should yet be in the prime of life.
The body was removed from the hospital in Dodge City to the undertaking parlors in Coldwater. From Coldwater the body was taken to Wilmore, Sunday, October 30th, where the funeral services was held in the Baptist church, Rev. E. Walter Dellinger, pastor of the M. E. church in Protection preached the funeral sermon. Interment was made in the Wilmore cemetery where the Masonic lodge of Wilmore had charge of the services. A large crowd of friends from Comanche and Clark county gathered to pay their last respects to their departed friend and neighbor. Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were, Mrs. Edith Smith of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Russel Washburn of Midwest, Wyoming; Mr. Holmes Smith of Haron, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Washburn of Sublette, Kansas; Mrs. Lloyd Payne of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Obituary Jay Thomas Smith was born at Huron, Ohio, September 17, 1880, at which place he lived until 1901, when he came west to Kansas with his oldest brother, W. D. Smith and wife, and nephew, Russel Washburn. They settled on Mule Creek in Comanche county, east of Wilmore. He made this his home until the end came at the Dodge City hospital October 28, 1927, at the age of 47 years, 1 month and 11 days.
On January 6, 1917, he was united in marriage to Miss Stella M. Testerman. She passed from this life just three months after their marriage. On December 9, 1919, he was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle Davis, and she with his mother, one sister and two brothers are left to mourn his going.
He was baptized into the Episcopal church at the age of five years and in that faith he remained until death. He was also a member of the Mason lodge at Wilmore and Consistory No. 2 at Wichita and the Midlan Shrine of that city, and the Eastern Star at Wilmore.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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