Smith, Morris Elry

Morris Elry Smith, 86, of Davenport, formerly of Marengo, died peacefully at the Kahl Home in Davenport on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Marengo, followed by a joint interment for both Morrie and Jean at Marengo Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. A time of fellowship with family to celebrate the lives of both Morrie and Jean will follow the service in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kahl Home.

Online condolences may be made at

Morris Elry Smith was born March 6, 1924, in Davenport, Iowa. He was the second youngest child of Elry and Leone Smith. He and his six brothers and sisters grew up on Davenport's west side. Morrie attended Davenport High School until enlisting in the service at the beginning of World War II. He was proud to have served in the United States Navy aboard PT boat 234, Squadron 23 and saw action in both the European and Pacific theatres of war. He was discharged in 1946. On Nov. 27, 1948, Morris was united in marriage to Juanita Jean Utter in Davenport. To this union 13 children were born.

Morrie's career path included wholesale appliance sales for RCA and Amana Refrigeration. He eventually headed up the service department for Tri-City Sales in Bettendorf, Iowa, before deciding to go out on his own in 1977, opening the Marengo Tap Room and later his own appliance store, MS Appliance in Marengo and Williamsburg. He and Jean were active in St. Patrick's Catholic Church there in Marengo.

Morrie was preceded in death by his dear wife of 62 years, Jean, who passed away on Nov. 29, 2011, and whom he missed terribly.

He is survived by his loving children, Patricia (Steve) Albright of Los Angeles, Calif., Mark (Sandra) Smith of Clarendon Hills, Ill., Jeffrey (Christine) Smith of Prophetstown, Ill., Rebecca Jones of Kutztown, Pa., Russell (Maurine) Smith of Anderson, S.C., Kevin (Karen) Smith, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Catherine (Dan) Hughes of Bettendorf, David Smith of Davenport, Mary (Greg) Duncan of Brookfield, Wis., Lisa (Barth) Adolphson of Cedar Rapids, Paul (Lana) Smith of Indianola, William (Diane) Smith of Marengo, and Andrew (Kim) Smith of Marion; as well as 42 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Shirley Anderson, Scottsdale, Ariz.