Funeral Services for Bob “Bobby” Allen Smith, Age 66 of Diggins, Missouri will be held on Friday, April 10th, 2026 at The Cedar Gap Baptist Church, Seymour, Missouri, beginning at 11:00 AM. Visitation will precede the service at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in The Fordland Cemetery, Fordland, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Ava, Missouri
Bobby Allen Smith, son of Ruby Ann (Lea) Owens and the late Dearld James Smith, was born May 2, 1959, and departed this life April 7, 2026, at his home in Diggins, Missouri, at 66 years and 11 months of age.
Bob grew up in the Seymour area and graduated from Seymour High School with the class of 1977. During high school, he worked at Bob Ellis’ Gas Station across from the high school. After high school, Bob chased down his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Julia Schroeder, and they were united in marriage on October 29, 1977. Two children were born to this union: Billy and Mandy. In November of 1977, he went to work at Ozark Correctional Center in Fordland, Missouri, where he worked for the next 20 years, retiring in 1997. He and his brother, Greg, then bought his dad’s business, Beetle’s Transmission Service in Springfield, Missouri, fulfilling his dream of continuing the family business which he operated until his last day.
Bob was saved and baptized in the James River at a young age, and he was a long-time member at Cedar Gap Baptist Church. He loved participating in the church’s annual “Classic Car Sunday” and he and Julia always brought their ‘71 El Camino and Pop’s ‘49 Mercury.
Bob enjoyed working on old cars, and he absolutely loved to hunt and fish. Above all, his favorite hobby was spending time with his kids and grandkids and participating in their hobbies with them; anything from their sporting activities to go-karts and demolition derbies. Bob also enjoyed going with Julia to crafts shows and flea markets. For the past nine years, Bob and his son, Billy, have had the privilege of using their boat and guiding veterans in the Salute To Service Bowfishing Tournament.
Bob was a hard worker and he believed in an honest day’s work. He instilled a strong work ethic in his kids and grandkids, just the way it was instilled in him. Bob was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he will always be remembered as the strong patriarch of the Smith family.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Dearld Smith, his step-father, Dave Owens, one sister, Cindy Witt, and one brother, Ronnie Owens.
He is survived by his loving wife, Julia Smith, of their home, his son, Billy Smith and wife, Liz, of Seymour, Missouri, his daughter, Mandy Smith and husband, Jonnie Horne, of Marshfield, Missouri, four grandchildren, Ryan Smith and wife, Mel, Katie White and wife, Ari, Preston Horne, and Elijah Horne and wife, Allison, two great-grandchildren, Grant Horne, and one on the way, Oliver Allen Smith, his mother, Ruby Owens of Diggins, Missouri, his step-mother, Wanda Smith of Springfield, Missouri, one brother, Greg Smith and wife, Nikki, of Springfield, Missouri, three sisters, Deborah Laschanzky and husband, Pep, of Springfield, Missouri, Kim Wilkins and husband, Darrin, of Seymour, Missouri, and Pamela Smith of Springfield, Missouri, and many nephews, nieces, and other extended family and friends who will miss him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fordland Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
