Rev. Chester C. Smith, son of the late John Edgar and Mary Ellen Carwile Smith, was born in Leora on Feb. 3, 1920, and died at the Missouri Southern Healthcare facility in Dexter on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the age of 85.

He had lived in Dexter since 1933. He was a retired General Baptist minister of 50 years and was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter. He had worked for many years as a belt sander at the IXL Manufacturing Co. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and had served during World War II.

On Aug. 5, 1939, he was married to Rachel Emma Williamson.

Surviving are his wife, Rachel Smith of Dexter; two sons, Chester J. Smith of Richmond, Va., and Jimmie D. Smith of Dexter; two brothers, Dean Smith of Dexter and Paul "Jack" Smith of Grassy; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Richard Smith in December 2003; three brothers, Clarence Smith and two in infancy, James and John Smith.

Visitation will be held after 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating.

Interment will follow in the Triplett Cemetery near Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.