James R. Smith 76 of Kent died Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Robinson Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born November 22, 1937 in Kent, Ohio to Albert R. and Hester M. (Nelson) Smith. Jim was a US Army veteran, member of the Ravenna Moose and Board member of the Portage County Soap Box Derby, owner of A-1 Rubbish and Jim's Auto Wrecking and worked at Clean Machine Car Washes. Survivors include his daughters Dona (Joe) Bica of Ravenna, Heidi Weisel of Kent and Christina (Todd Hemberger) of Ravenna, sons J Michael (Jennifer) Smith of Charlestown and Michael D. (Marisa) Smith of White House, TN, grandchildren Kara Bica, Ashleigh and Ryan Weisel, Zac and Amber Dailey, Mason and Meadow Smith and Paxton and Addison Hemberger, sister Bernadine Manning of Kent, brothers George (Karen) Smith of Wadsworth, Chuck Smith of Stow and Leo (Sadie) Kline of Kent, several nieces and nephews and his beloved dog, Brady. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ray Kline and Howard Smith. Calling hours will be from 2 - 5 PM Sunday, August 10, 2014 at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Monday, August 11, 2014 at the funeral home with Reverend Norma Bates officiating. Burial will follow in Charlestown Cemetery in Charlestown Township, Ohio. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials to the James R. Smith Fund c/o Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home, 141 N. Meridian Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266.
