Neal “Leon” Smith, Reading
Neal “Leon” Smith of Reading died Monday, April 2, 2007, at Newman Regional Health after a brief illness. He was 69.
Mr. Smith was a general contractor at Sedan for many years. In 1997, he moved to the Emporia area where he established Neal’s Custom Cabinets and Furniture. He moved the business to Reading in 2005. He served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam.
The son of Neal Bub and Amanda Lou Hagner Smith, he was born July 26, 1937, in Harvey County.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Bette, of the home; one son, Bryan Smith of Republic, Mo.; one daughter, Lynnet Hardwick of Van Buren, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Shana Dempsey of Reading and Caron Eby of Saginaw, Mich.; one stepson, Shane Dempsey of Gillham, Ark; two brothers; one sister; four grandsons; one granddaughter; four stepgrandsons; and two stepgranddaughters.
Mr. Smith donated his body to the University of Kansas Hospital. The memorial service will be at at 2 p.m. Saturday at 18 Vine St., in Reading.
Memorial contributions to Hand in Hand Hospice may be sent in care of the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, KS 66801. The family requests no flowers.