Meryl Lester Smith

Meryl Lester Smith, 91, born on February 8, 1924 at Curlew, Iowa and baptized April 4, 1947 in Laurens. He graduated from Garfield-Webb in 1943; he served in the Army from 1944 to 1945, and was honorably discharged due to polio. He came home and married the love of his life, Mardella K. Aden in March 1946. They have four beautiful daughters, Sandra Stone, Joyce Bailey, Donna Drake and Connie Seaman. Meryl and Mardella raised their family and farmed near Webb until 1957. He became the Rural Route Mail Carrier for Webb and then Spencer until he retired in 1986. He loved his job and the many people he served. In addition to mail carrier; he worked with Rod Bovee on his farm for many years during the afternoons and evenings. After many years together Meryl and Mardella divorced, but they remained lifelong friends. Meryl then married Colleen Quist, and spent many happy years with her. Meryl died from complications of pneumonia on August 9, 2015. Meryl enjoyed family vacations, camping and boating, especially at Lake Okoboji where he taught many young people to water ski. He also enjoyed the many hours spent horseback riding with his family. His other interests included gardening, woodworking and having coffee with the guys at Spencer Hy-Vee or at Cenex in Fostoria each morning. He was a volunteer for the Spencer Fire Department for many years; he was a lifelong member of the American Legion in Clay County; and he was very active in the National and State Rural Route Mail Carriers Association. He loved attending the Clay County Fair and the Albert City Theshermen's Show. Meryl is blessed with 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and celebrating their special occasions. He was preceded in death by his father, Roscoe Smith, his mother, Fern Morgan, Stepfather Henry Zech, a brother, Alan Smith, a sister, Norma Jean Reardon, his third wife, Colleen Quist, and son-in-law, Darrell Stone. Greg Seaman, his son-in-law, also passed away on August 9, 2015. He is survived by his daughters: Sandra Stone and her daughters Brenda (Mike) Frye and 3 children Sydney, Devyn, and Ryley; Tammy (Jeff) Northrup and 3 children, Brandon, Brooke, and Brady; Laura (Josh) Zummak and son Tyler; Heather Stone; Joyce Bailey (Floyd Mefferd) and 3 sons Brian (Michelle) Bailey and children Sebastian, Lauren, Isaac, Hannah, and Caleb; Brent Bailey and 3 children, William, Gwyneth, and Camille; Brad (Melissa) Bailey; Donna (Joe) Drake and 3 children, Janna, Sara, Alex; Connie (Greg) Seaman and 3 children, Josh (Lisa) Seaman and 4 children, Autumn, Kaitlyn, Delaney, Emalynn; Kelly (Mike) Johnson and 3 children, Devin, Madison, Makayla; Jacob Seaman and 1 child, Matthew; and his sister, Violet Harris; brother and sister-in-law, Duane (Lavohn) Smith; sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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