WICHITA, formerly Cawker City – Leon Jospeh Smith, 87, of Wichita Kansas., formerly of Cawker City, KS passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26,2024.
Leon was the 8th of 9 children born to Philip and Celestine (Hake) Smith, at the family farm home south of Cawker City, KS., on December 27, 1936. His family moved into Cawker City prior to him being of school age. He attended St. Theresa Catholic Grade School and was a 1956 graduate of Cawker City High School. He played football, basketball, and baseball, earning his Green and White Letter Sweater. During his high school days, he was fondly known as ”Joey.” Later he was known by all as “Joe.”
Leons work ethic began when he was a young teenage, assisting his father and older brothers tearing down old homes, barns, and outbuildings. and at Livestock Sale Barns in Mitchell and surrounding counties. After high school graduation he worked for Kenneth Knights House Moving company out of Glen Elder, KS., among other brief jobs, including in California. He returned home; went to Wichita, KS. reunited with his girlfriend. In 1958 Joe hired on at the Barnett Hassock factory in Cawker City. In October 1961 Joe moved his young family to Wichita; took a job at the Wichita Furniture factory. In 1962 he took employment with Beech Aircraft in Wichita, in the Upholstery Department, retired 37½ years later in supervision. Joe used his skills with a hammer and nails in hand building sheds; doing home carpentry; rebuilt and installed overhead doors.
On October 17, 1959 Joey was united in Holy Matrimony to the love of his life, Madonna Hill at the Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City. They were blessed with three children 2 sons; Quinn Alan; Rodney Joseph; and Valarie Madonna.
Joe’s life passion outside of family was baseball, Joe passed on his love of baseball to his wife, their children and grandchildren. Joe willed with pride as he coached and watched his children and grandchildren develop their sports skills, demonstrate good sportsmanship and enjoy success at the ball fields. He was a proud grandpa who could be seen in the audience at Middle School and High School Band and Jazz concerts.
Leon “Joe” was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Elmer, Charles, George, Duane, Philip, Rosemary Myers, Patricia Schmidt-Hardman, infant sister Darlene; son, Quinn (July 7, 2000); two sisters-in- law, Jean Malek-Smith, Mary Rosemond(Sellers) Smith; two brothers-in-law, Ed Schmidt, Fremon Myers; Great Nephew David Myers; Nephew Robert Hill; father and mother-in-law, Orville and Ada (Stewart) Hill.
Left to morn his passing are: his devoted wife Madonna; children, and grandchildren whom he cherished so deeply: Rodney (Brenda); Valarie Lester (Andy); daughter-in-law Kim Smith-Newhouse (Jim); three grandsons; Cody Smith, Carson and Carter Smith; 5 step-grandchildren; Tyler Drinnen, Mercede (Drinnen) Dreiling; Jake, Andrew, and Dylan Lester; 7 step-great grandchildren. A host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Joe’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
