Arthur "Art" William Smith was born July 20, 1937 in Methuen, Massachusetts the son of Arthur Clarence and Natalie (Rurak) Smith. He completed this life on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Oklahoma City at the age of 87.

Art served his country in the United States Air Force from 1954 – 1966, enlisting at the the age of 17. While he was stationed at Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma he met Mary Ellen Harrington at a drive in ice cream parlor. They were married March 17, 1956.

While in the USAF, Art and Mary Ellen were stationed at several locations including Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri. Art served in the AF medical services as a dental lab technician. Art was also deployed overseas for a year at Thule AFB, Greenland. He resigned from the USAF as a Staff Sergeant.

Art was called to be a minister of the gospel of Christ. Because of this, he requested and was granted an early release from his military commitment after serving nearly 12 years. He attended Bear Valley School of Preaching in Denver, Colorado beginning in 1966. He graduated in two years with 144 hours of college bible credit. He served as a pulpit minister in several states and congregations from 1966 until he retired from full-time pulpit ministry in 1990.

Art & Mary Ellen then moved to Oklahoma City and embarked on his second career, pursuing his passionate hobby as a firearms dealer and collector. He and Mary Ellen established and operated three successful gun & pawn businesses along the way in Oklahoma City, El Reno, and Watonga. He and Mary Ellen then fully retired to Holdenville, OK and later to Edmond, where they enjoyed time with children and being the best "Popo" to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-nieces and nephews. He always loved the outdoors, especially shooting, hunting, and fishing. He was an avid reader of Louis L'Amour novels and loved action movie and westerns.

Art was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Smith; and his great grandson, Ellis Tripp.

Art is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Ellen; his son David Lee Smith and his wife, Karla of Broken Bow, OK; his son Don Arthur Smith and his wife Terri of Edmond, OK; his daughter, Dee Adams of Webb City, MO; his twin brother, Thomas Arthur Smith of New Hampshire; his sister, Barbara Lambert of Florida; his grandchildren, Krystle Smith (Zac), Jensen Kapchinske (Andy), Stephanie Tripp (Allen), Sydney Smith, Tobey Viel (Trey), Jaci Smith, Dalton Roberts, Ruskin Roberts, Danika Henke and Branson Ledford; his great grandchildren, Davis William & Gemma Marie Tripp, John Arthur (Jack) & Maren Bee Kapchinske, Archer Roy Viel, Delton, Hayden, Landrie, Karter, & Ellie Roberts.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 7, 2025 in the Vondel Smith Mortuary North Chapel, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd.

Memorials may be made to Bear Valley Bible Institute, 2707 S. Lamar Street, Denver, Colorado 80227 www.wetrainpreachers.com