Daniel W. Smith Jr.

Daniel W. Smith, Jr. passed away Monday morning, May 11, 2020 at the St. James Living Center. He was 78 years of age.

Dan, as he was know by his family and friends, was born February 17, 1942 in Laurel, Mississippi, the son of the late Daniel Walter and Zetta Sarah Wheelis Smith, Sr..

He is survived by his childeren: Julie Christine Lyons of Labadie, Mo. ,Jeffrey Scott Boyce of Springfield, Tn and Daniel Walter Smith III of Oak Grove, Mo., along with grandchhildren: Kelly Lyons, Jakob Boyce, Elizabeth Boyce, Blake Boyce, Jocelyn Smith and Shayla Smith.

Some people call Dan "Dangerous Dan,"and if you were around Dan much, you would know why he got the title. He loved to be around people; he loved to joke and tease people. He was fun to be around. He had many hobbies; his biggest hobby was collecting old cars. He had a great collection along with one of the biggest garages to store them in. Often times you would see Dan’s yellow 1959 Cadillac or his old Ford Convertible at the Tourist Information Center. Dan Spent many hours with his good friend and neighbor, Dennis Hicks, swapping stories, going to car shows and keeping the "collection" running.   He was currently working as a building and grounds assistant at the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and he was driving Bus # 33 for the Rolla Public Schools. He loved to visit with the kids. He previously worked for the City of St. James at the Tourist Information Center and for the Jones Funeral Home as a funeral assistant /driver. He was active in the community as a volunteer at the Missouri Veterans Home and St. James Caring Center. He worshiped at the First Baptist Church in St. James where he drove the church bus.

Before he retired and moved to St. James, Dan owned and operated Fire Works, Inc, a fire sprinkler company in St Louis, Mo. He was a Master Sprinkler Fitter and also a Certified Reserve Police Officer as a Lieutenant in Jennings, Mo.. He attended Hazelwood High School and attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Scattering of his ashes will be on his farm.

Memorials are requested for a tree fund to be planted at the Tourist Information Center in Memory of Dan Smith. Donation may be mailed to the Jones Funeral Home 200 South Meramec St. James, Mo. 65559.

Cards of condolences may be entered at www.jonesfunerals.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Daniel W. Smith Jr., please visit our floral store.