Kenny was born in Louisburg, Kansas on December 4, 1950, to Charles and Nora Fern Smith and was the youngest of 11 siblings, five brothers and five sisters, Walter Watson (Loretta), Charles Wallace (Deborah), Lorene (Glenn), Dennis (Suecko), Donna (Paul), Irene (Lewis), Shirley (Melvin), Pauline (Kenneth), George (Linda), and Harry (Mary).
Kenny left behind a legacy of hard work ethics, humor, caring and compassion. He was a graduate of Drexel High School, class of 1968 and served with the Army reserve, Air Force.
In 1971, Kenny married Sharon Flanagan from Adrian, Missouri and they had a daughter, Shea.
He married Donna Collins in 1976 in Quapaw, Oklahoma and divorced in November 2007. He raised Donna’s son Justin Mitchell from the age of 3 years and together they had a son Brent Smith. He has resided in both Kansas and Missouri and lived in Overland Park, Kansas for over 30 years.
He worked in various industries, some full time and some part time. Smith & Loveless, Lenexa, Kansas, installed mechanical components on large sewage lift stations. Owned and operated multiple service stations in both Kansas and Missouri. Insurance agent, marketed and sold multiple lines of insurance products at Life and Health in Overland Park, Kansas for over 15 years. Kern Construction in Drexel, Missouri, construction work, maintenance and repair on light and heavy construction equipment. Cornerstone Painting, Overland Park, Kansas commercial painting interior and exterior. Tru Check, Lenexa, Kansas as a Technical Field Supervisor, installation of automatic reading and transmitting devices in gas meters.
Kenny was a real “hands-on” person with strong mechanical aptitude, intelligence, analytical and self-motivated. He achieved various sales production awards and recognition for exceeding sales goals. He enjoyed working with senior clients in insurance. He has helped people stranded on the side of road to helping someone qualify for a child tax credit they may not be aware of.
Being from a small rural town he liked being outdoors and talking with old friends. He enjoyed fishing with the boys, greyhound dog races, history, reading and travel. Sometimes just hopping in the car for a daytrip. He was always there to support Justin and Brent with school and college. He attended sports activities, conferences, shopping for their first vehicle and so much more. He always enjoyed being with family and friends.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Nora Fern Smith, brothers Walter Watson Smith, Charles Wallace (Chuck) Smith, Dennis Ray Twyman and Harry Louis Smith, sisters Lorene Rose Twyman Morris, Shirley Ann Twyman Robinson.
Kenny is survived by three sisters, Donna Angell of Shawnee Kansas, Irene Woods of Paradise, Texas, Pauline Gentry of Belton, Missouri and one brother George Robert Smith of Drexel, Missouri; daughter Shea Newton and her four daughters and her eight grandchildren; son and daughter-in-law Justin and Julie Mitchell and their children Gavin, Audrey and Wyatt of Lees Summit, Missouri; son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Tiffany Smith and their son Owen of Leawood, Kansas; and many friends, cousins, nephews and nieces who all loved him.
