Obituary of James Smoake

Funeral services for James Fenner Smoake, Jr., 85, will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, officiated by the Rev. Elford Roof. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3 pm prior to the service in the parlor at the church. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the family. Mr. Smoake passed away Tuesday, Sept 11. He was predeceased by Florie Alice Sightler Smoake, his wife of 58 years. Born in Asheboro, NC, he was a son of the late James Fenner and Minnie McCaskill Smoake. He retired from Borden Ice Cream after more than 35 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and a member of American Legion Post 90. A long-time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, he was a lifetime member of Lutheran Men in Mission, was actively involved with Meals on Wheels, assisted with the scout program of Troop 343, and helped work the voting polls for Precinct #14. Mr. Smoake loved being out of doors and cherished family gatherings for which he often prepared barbecue pork and chicken on the outdoor pit he had built and churned ice cream for dessert. He loved tending his roses, gardening, traveling, camping, and bird watching from his screened porch. The bird houses he made were on display throughout his yard and the yards of friends and family members. He looked forward to Christmas and the chance to play Santa for his grandchildren. Survivors include his daughters, Diana W. Gold (Phil) and Cynthia S. Williams (Stephen M.) of Lexington; sons, James Gregory Smoake (Patti), Daniel Sightler Smoake (Margie) of West Columbia, and Thomas Hulon Smoake (Cathy B.) of Batesburg-Leesville; 14 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Leah Sightler Sinnott and Sara Sightler Busbee of West Columbia; and a large and loving extended family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2491 Emmanuel Church Road, West Columbia, SC 29170.