Hugh D. Smith II
Hugh D. Smith II of Columbia died in his home Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. He was 41. Mr. Smith died of brain cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends.
“He always put everyone else before himself, always,” said Jay Greenwell, a longtime friend.
Mr. Smith was born May 22, 1969, in Oak Hill, W.Va.. At 15, he moved with his parents to Bradenton, Fla.
While living in Florida, Mr. Smith met his first wife. His daughter, Mindy, was born in 1989.
In 1993, while applying for a job, Mr. Smith met his wife, Rebecca. In 1994, the two married in a small ceremony in Sarasota, Fla. The couple moved to Centralia in 1995, and then to Columbia where they settled. His son, Wyatt, was born in 1998.
Along with his acute devotion to others, Mr. Smith enjoyed fishing and hunting with family and friends.
Nearly every Thanksgiving, Mr. Smith returned to West Virginia to hunt. He especially liked deer hunting, family friend Amanda Barnes said. He also enjoyed hunting in southwest Missouri, near Truman Lake. Hulen Lake was one of Mr. Smith's favorite fishing spots along with Lakeside Club.
In 2006, Mr. Smith bought and rebuilt a cabin at Lakeside Club where he served on the fish and lake committee. While rebuilding his own cabin, Mr. Smith helped Greenwell rebuild his.
"He was always there assisting, helping, or just doing,” said Greenwell.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Rebecca, of Columbia; his two children, Mindy Wilson and Wyatt Smith, both of Columbia; parents, Hugh and Carol of Richwood, W.Va.; siblings, Robin Jackson of Bradenton, Fla., and Pam Smith of Ocala, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Madison and Emily. Mr. Smith also had two dogs.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel, 1610 N. Garth Ave., Columbia, MO 65202. Services will be at noon Wednesday at Woodcrest Chapel, 2201 W. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, MO 65203. A private family burial will follow at Columbia Cemetery, 30 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Head for the Cure, Attn: Jennifer Puett at 250 Richards Road., Kansas City, MO 64116, or to the American Cancer Society.
