Leon D. Smith, 80, of Excelsior Springs, died Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Liberty Hospital.

Leon was born on August 25, 1939, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Paul M. and Orelia (Brown) Smith.  He was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Endsley of Ray County on October 25, 1960.  She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include: one daughter, Sandra Smith Terry of Independence; two grandchildren: Jedadiah (Ashley) Terry of Independence and Katrina (Alan) Bloomquist of Grain Valley; 8 great grandchildren: Devon, Logan, Dylan, Katelynn, Emmett, Gavin, Dottie and Pierce; one brother, Jim (Gayle) Smith of Kansas City and one sister, Jean Castle of Alameda, CA, and his many friends and church family.

As a child, Leon moved to the Richmond area where he grew up and graduated from Richmond High School in the class of 1957.  Leon worked for 41 years for the Ford Motor Company in Claycomo and retired in 2000.  After retirement, Leon worked part time for Gary Rythers Auctioneer.  Leon was a proud member of the United Auto Workers Local 249.  Leon was a wonderful husband, great father and loving grandfather.  Leon was very active in his church and was especially close to his church family.  He was always there to help anyone who needed it.  He loved to collect antiques, especially antique tools.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Excelsior Springs Baptist Church Building Fund.  They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street-P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2019 at the Excelsior Springs Baptist Church, 1500 Rosalea Street, Excelsior Springs.  Burial will be in Richmond Memory Gardens Cemetery, Richmond.  Please share your memories of Leon by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .