Robert Ray Smothers was born July 3rd, 1941 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to parents
Jonathan Thomas Francis Smothers and Lena Wanita Barns Smothers-Baker. He was the 4th
generation in a long legacy of faithful servants to Jehovah God. He was baptized as one of
Jehovah’s Witnesses on May 24th, 1952 at 11 years of age. He married Linda Kay Smothers
June 22, 1963. They were married for 59 years and had 3 beautiful children together. Bob died
a faithful servant to Jehovah after 70 years of dedication.
Bob was the oldest of 4 children. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jim Smothers
(October 2015). He is survived by his sisters Wanda King and Carol Teter (John), aunt Evelyn
Stamps, uncle Dale Barns, wife Linda and their 3 children, Marshall (Sandi) Smothers, Cheri
Coryell (Steve), and Chad (Geneva) Smothers, four grandchildren, Derrick Fisher (Jara), Alisha
Parks (Brandon), Zach Smothers (Amanda), and Landon Smothers. He has 6 great
grandchildren.
As children, Bob and Linda crossed paths many times, although neither of them realized it until
later. They played ball in a vacant lot that Bob kept mowed in exchange for being able to play
there. Their families even lived across the street and down from one another for a time. As a
young man, Bob bought a 1954 green Ford vehicle from Linda’s uncle. It wasn’t until a group of
sisters from the Oak Grove congregation discovered a young--already baptized--Linda in the
door to door ministry, that Bob and Linda’s paths began to merge into one. Bob’s mother and
sister--and therefore young Bob--would pick up young Linda to take her to meetings, and a
friendship started to form while driving to and from the meetings. It wasn’t long until they had
their first date at Cool Crest in Independence where Bob picked her up in the vehicle he had
unknowingly bought from her uncle years before. Shortly after graduating, 18 year old Linda and
21 year old Bob were married at the Oak Grove Kingdom Hall. Bob served as an elder in the
congregation for many years. He held many titles and assisted the elder body in many
capacities. He had a pioneer spirit and preached in the ministry as often as possible.
Bob was a hard worker and an ornery, playful man. When the family car broke down, he rode
his bike 45 miles round trip for a month, to run his cleaning business and provide for his family.
Cheri and Marshall love to recall occasions when they would accompany their dad to work to
spend time with him. He would run ahead into the building, turn off the lights and wait for them
behind doors, just waiting to jump out and scare them. All you would hear from the dark was a
wheezy “Mutley” laugh he was so known for, and they just KNEW that he was lurking
somewhere, waiting to startle them. Marshall speaks fondly about bonfires with friends where
Bob would run and jump over the fires, doing handsprings along the way. When the fire was out,
he’d take his shoes and socks off and run over the hot coals in his bare feet. Chad’s favorite
memory is camping in the back of the van in the chilly autumn air. Bob was cold and wanted a
snuggle, so he convinced Chad that there was a bear outside so that Chad would cuddle up
close to him and keep him warm. There are too many fond memories to list, but the family looks
forward to sharing a big, juicy watermelon with him when he wakes up in the paradise, and
hearing that ornery, wheezy laugh once more.

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