Gary L. Smith

Gary L. Smith, 75, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at his home.



Memorial services will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday March 22, 2022, at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Military honors will be rendered by the United Veterans Honor Guard and U.S. Army Honors Team immediately following the services.



Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2022, at the Apfel Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at the Shelton Cemetery.



Gary Smith was born on April 28, 1946, at Grand Island, Nebraska to William L. and Evelyn (Dubbs) Smith. He grew up in Shelton and graduated from Shelton High School in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 where he was stationed in the Vietnam War.



He married Jane Ann Pickering on September 7, 196,8 in Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island, Wichita Falls, TX, Manhattan and Wamego, KS before moving back to Shelton in 1987 where they made their home until 2017 when he moved back to Grand Island to be closer to his daughter. Gary was employed at Case New Holland where he retired in 2005.

He was a member of the Shelton United Methodist Church, VFW and American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, watching his grandchildren grow up, and playing cards.



Survivors include his daughter Heather Scheel, son-in-law Matthew Scheel, grandchildren Aralynn and Austin Scheel, step grandchild Paxton Dooley, brother Don Smith and wife Stella, sisters Lillian Oliver, Ramona McGowan, Betty Wescoat, sister-in-law Pat Smith, brothers and sisters-in-law Jim and Gerianne Pickering, Jack and Pat Pickering and numerous nieces and nephews.



He was preceded in death by his wife Jane, his parents William and Evelyn, mother and father-in-law Virgil and Delores Pickering, brothers William Smith, Jr., Pete Smith and sister Wilma Bentley.



Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice or to the family.