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Billie Damron Smith, age 85 years, of Jefferson City, Missouri passed away Saturday, May 26, 2018 at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital under the care of Hospice Compassus surrounded by his family.

Bill was born at home in the community of Ashbury near Keytesville, Missouri on January 6, 1933. He was the second son of Chester Paul and Ruth (Rice) Smith and was preceded in death by his parents and brother, J.W. Smith.

Bill attended Keytesville Public Schools and graduated from Keytesville High School in May of 1950.

After graduation he followed a calling and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where ultimately, he was deployed and served in the Korean War.

Once his tour was up Bill was honorably discharged from the USMC as a Sergeant and moved to Columbia where he attended the University of Missouri.

Bill followed his passion of service and found he was called to law enforcement where he joined the Columbia Police Department. After several years with the police department, Bill joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1958 where he ultimately retired after almost 34 years of service. During his time working for the Highway Patrol, he served many posts: first as a trooper, eventually moving to Jefferson City to serve as Captain of Troop F, and ultimately reaching rank of Major and retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1991.

During his time in law enforcement, he was invited to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy where he was proud to become a graduate.

In addition to the time he devoted to his family and work, Bill was a member of the American Legion Roscoe Enloe Post 5, Missouri Peace Officers Association, Samuel Gearhart Detachment of the Marines Corps League and the FBI National Academy Association. He was honored to be a participant in the Central Missouri Honor Flight and always spoke about that day to family and friends.

In 1951 Bill was married to Norma Jean Kuhlman and the couple had three children: John Damron Smith and his wife Denise and Tamara Lynn Willingham and her husband Greg, both of Columbia, Missouri and Michelle Rena Trued and her husband Steve of Olathe, Kansas.

On September 29th 1973, Bill was wed to Jane Ann Quinley and the couple had one son, Christopher Damron Smith, of Mt. Pleasant, Texas and his former daughter-in-law, Dara of Pittsburg, Texas.

He is survived by: his wife, Jane, four children, and nine grandchildren, Shelly Monroe, Evan Smith, Tyler and Kyle Willingham, Cole, Grant and Weston Trued, and Sydney and Sophie Smith; one sister-in-law, Frances Smith; and two nieces, Melissa Tiffany and Sandy Smith. In addition to his nine grandchildren, he has three step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Miles and Sonya Smith and Nolan Monroe.

Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 31, 2018 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Charles Jackson officiating. Graveside services and interment with military honors will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Samuel Gearhart Detachment of the Marine Corps League or the American Legion, Roscoe Enloe Post 5.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.

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