Lyndon Norman Smith

Lyndon Norman Smith passed away suddenly on the early morning of Friday, February 22, 2019, at the Putnam County Care Center in Unionville, Missouri. Lyndon, the oldest son of Norman and Della Smith, was born on September 30, 1942, in Riceville, Iowa. He lived his first twenty-five years on farms in northern Iowa along with his parents and three siblings. Because there were minimal special education opportunities at the time to provide formal education for children with special needs, Lyndon gained most of his knowledge from his loving parents and siblings. He could be found most days working with small animals, helping in the garden, and doing many other chores on the farm and different times he even owned his own sheep herd.

In 1967, he moved with his family to a farm in north Missouri, near Lucerne, where new friends were quick to include Lyndon at church and community functions. Following the deaths of his parents, Lyndon moved to a residence in Trenton, Missouri in 2004 which cared for his specific needs. Due to failing health, he then moved back to Unionville at the Putnam County Care Center in the spring of 2016.

Lyndon enjoyed the sport of baseball very much and was knowledgeable about players and their statistics. He was very competitive in games such as checkers, Bingo and UNO, and he seldom lost. He loved being around his family members and friends where he could “sit and visit”. Lyndon could also be found spending time with and watching his nieces and nephews. He would go to as many of their sporting events and school activities as he could and then would like to chat about it afterward with them.

Neighbors and friends knew where to find Lyndon in his free time, shooting a basketball. Whether it was on the farm or later years in town, when he had the chance he would go outside and shoot baskets and his nieces and nephews could be seen playing with him, but not necessarily. He would play alone and would go out year around if the weather permitted. It would be hard to calculate how many basketballs he wore out through the years.

Lyndon was a faithful member of the Unionville Methodist Church until recent years and then would attend regular Bible Studies at the Care Center until he was no longer able. Lyndon was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Surviving are his sister, Phyllis (Ron) Jarrett, and brothers Robert (Judy) and Paul (Paula) Smith, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.

Funeral services for Lyndon will be held Saturday, March 2, at the Playle and Collins Funeral Home in Unionville. Visitation is planned for 12:30 with a funeral directly after at 1:30 and then the burial at the Unionville Cemetery. A memorial has been established for Lyndon at the Putnam County Care Center in Unionville, entrusted to Playle and Collins Funeral Home.