Gary L. Smith

Gary L. Smith, age 75, of Grand Island, died Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at his home.

Memorial services were held Tuesday March 22, 2022, at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Military honors were rendered by the United Veterans Honor Guard and U.S. Army Honors Team. Inurnment was at the Shelton Cemetery.

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Online condolences may be left for the family at www. apfelfuneralhome.com.

Gary Smith was born on April 28, 1946, at Grand Island, to William L. and Evelyn (Dubbs) Smith. He grew up in Shelton and graduated from Shelton High School in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 where he was stationed in the Vietnam War.

He married Jane Ann Pickering on September 7, 1968, in Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Manhattan and Wamego, Kansas, before moving back to Shelton in 1987 where they made their home until 2017 when he moved back to Grand Island to be closer to his daughter. Gary was employed at Case New Holland where he retired in 2005.

He was a member of the Shelton United Methodist Church, VFW, and American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, watching his grandchildren grow up, and playing cards.

Survivors include his daughter, Heather Scheel; son-in-law, Matthew Scheel; grandchildren, Aralynn and Austin Scheel; step-grandchild, Paxton Dooley; brother, Don Smith and wife Stella; sisters, Lillian Oliver, Ramona McGowan, and Betty Wescoat; sister-in-law, Pat Smith; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Gerianne Pickering and Jack and Pat Pickering; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane; his parents, William and Evelyn; mother and father-in-law, Virgil and Delores Pickering; brothers, William Smith, Jr. and Pete Smith; and sister, Wilma Bentley.