Lyle L. Smith - Obituary

 Lyle L. Smith - Obituary

Lyle L. Smith

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Lyle Leon Smith of Grain Valley, Missouri, a faithful and steadfast servant of the Lord, peacefully passed away July 19, 2024, while under the care of the staff at Anew Healthcare Odessa nursing home, where he had resided for a little over two months.

Lyle, the third and youngest child of Leonard and Ruth Smith, was born January 28, 1941, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Several years later, the family moved to Grain Valley, Missouri, where Lyle attended all 12 years of school, graduating from Grain Valley High School in 1959. This was followed by two years in college; freshman year at Graceland College and sophomore year at Central Missouri State University (CMSU). While browsing one of the university announcement boards in January 1961, Lyle and a friend, read a notice of a new program President John F. Kennedy was instituting: the Peace Corps. The flyer asked those interested to take a test at the general U.S. Post Office in Kansas City, Missouri. They both thought, “What a great idea! Let’s do it!” The test lasted several hours. When leaving the building they both laughed and agreed it was a fun experience, but then promptly forgot about it.

   Music played a large part in Lyle’s life: singing in a male quartet in high school; solos for church services; and musical productions. That summer of 1961, he had been cast as the male lead in Brigadoon, to be performed at what is commonly called the “Campus” in Independence, Missouri. Rehearsals had begun when Lyle had a call from Washington, D.C., inviting him to join the first Peace Corps group. Bound for Colombia, South America, for two years, the 60-member group would be helping the Colombians with community development projects. Lyle gave up his role in Brigadoon and embarked on what became one of his driving forces in his life—to help others who had greater need than he did. His mother told him he didn’t have to go, but he replied, “I want to go.” (Years later in 2016, Lyle donated his correspondence papers, a one-hour recorded interview about his time in the Peace Corps, the first aid kit, and other manuals and papers to the John F. Kennedy Library    in Boston, Massachusetts.)  

   When his two years ended, he worked short term for C.A.R.E in Haiti and Panama providing aid and relief following a devasting hurricane. But now—It was time to return home and complete his undergraduate degree at CMSU majoring in Spanish and to find a wife to join him in his international work. In the spring of 1965, he met Sherrie Diann Kline from Jacksonville, Florida, another student at CMSU. They met in March, became engaged July 4, and married December 19, 1965. Four months later, they left for India.  Lyle was a Field Representative for C.A.R.E. assisting self-help and school lunch nutrition programs. Their first son, Todd John-Thomas, was born while living in India.

   The Spring of 1968 saw them back in the States to obtain a master’s degree in political science, during which time a second son was born, Jared Lyle. The third son and youngest child, Aaron Joel Rae, was born in 1972 in Indonesia, where Lyle was Assistant Country Director and Team Administrator for C.A.R.E./MEDICO and later in 1973 was transferred to Afghanistan with the same responsibilities.

   After the assignment in Afghanistan, the family lived again in the States where Lyle obtained a master’s degree from Webster College in Health Services Administration. He worked as a hospital administrator for the University of Health Sciences hospital in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Red Cross Advisory Board, Northeast Jackson County, 1982-1984; member, 1978-1989, and as a board member for Della C. Lamb Neighborhood House in Kansas City, Missouri, 1980-1986. 

   Some years later, when the children were older, Lyle was hired by Project HOPE as Hospital Administrator/Program Director for their operations in China, principally to oversee the development of a 250-bed children’s hospital in Shanghai. Following his China assignment, he signed on with the Red Cross as Head of Programs for the Central American Regional Delegation in El Salvador and later promoted Head of the Regional Delegation in the Balkans with headquarters in Macedonia. He also had numerous consultant jobs in many other countries.

   His calm, patient, and positive outlook on life, and his knowledge and understanding of other cultures served him well in these positions. He was at home in a mud hut as well as a Maharajah’s palace and conversed easily with a humble worker, a country president, or a Communist Party Secretary.

   During the ‘80s, Lyle and his wife became extremely interested in archaeology and linguistics of the Mesoamerican area that shared so many correlations with the ancient record called The Book of Mormon. They studied books and articles, attended numerous conferences and workshops on the Maya hieroglyphics and in 1982 went with a tour group to Mexico. They loved it so much, Lyle thought with his extensive traveling experience and his ability to speak Spanish, they could try to lead a yearly tour to the ruins, visit the museums, and enjoy some adventures. From 1987 until 2020, Lyle and his wife led a yearly tour to the museums and ancient ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, or El Salvador, as well as three tours to Israel. Lyle shared the archeology of the sites, and his wife, the language patterns and how to read the hieroglyphics. In late 1994, Lyle and his wife, along with two friends Don and Pat Beebe, created a small organization called Pre-Columbian Studies Institute (PSI) that published a newsletter with articles about how new archaeological studies supported The Book of Mormon, and also gave many presentations to different groups.

   The biggest influence dominating all Lyle’s life was his belief in God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served as a pastor for the Oak Grove congregation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (RLDS) for some years, taught many classes, and remained active in church work throughout his life. After retirement, in 2005 he accompanied his son Aaron to Kenya, Africa, to minister to church members there. He fell in love with the people and returned every year until 2023 when his health made it difficult for him to travel. He saw the need for teaching and training new priesthood members, and with the agreement and cooperation of Eric Odida and the leadership of the church in Kenya, instituted a yearly priesthood retreat.

BUT—who and what was Lyle? The following are selected comments out of the many received by the family upon learning of Lyle’s passing.
He was such a kind-hearted servant of the Lord who wanted to always serve and minster to others….
I loved your dad. He was a great man. I love to be in his presence.
His ministry touched my heart.
He was a [gentle] giant.  A great man with a huge intellect, a bigger heart, and a passion for serving people.
Your dad was a pillar of faith to so many Saints in the church. I only met him one time and I felt it a privilege.
He had great humor and patience with all of us [tour members].

   Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard Leon Smith and Ruth Geneva (Haas) of Grain Valley, Missouri, and his eldest sister Sylvia Ruth Elliott Humphries (Yucaipa, California). He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sherrie Diann (Kline), three sons; Todd John-Thomas (Suzanne); Jared Lyle (Mindy); and Aaron Joel Rae (April); ten grandchildren and a newly arrived great granddaughter; his sister Celia Smith Jeffers, and many cousins. 

Visitation will be Friday, August 16, 5-7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ Oak Grove Restoration Branch and a memorial service, Saturday, August 17,11 a.m. also at the church. A short family service will take place at the cemetery following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Royer Funeral Home.    

Those wishing to give something in Lyle’s memory can send donations to the African Restoration Ministries (ARM). Make the check payable to ARM and send it to ARM, 3519 S. Crysler Ave., Independence, MO 64055.

Obituary submitted by family

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO   816-847-4441