Marvin "Jack" SMOOT

Marvin
Jul 27, 1932
May 27, 2022

Anna
Feb 22, 1931
Mar 24, 2017

Marvin "Jack" Smoot and his identical twin brother, Robert "Gene" were born on July 27, 1932 in Rover, Mo. Their parents, Ellen (Wright) and Allen Smoot had no idea what was in store for them. Jack was named after the family's mule so they changed the name of the mule. Most of their childhood was spent running and throwing rocks at anything that moved, including each other. Very few people could tell them apart.
During their high school years, Jack usually played with eight fouls because he was a "hacker". Jack wore #3 and Gene wore #8. The opposing coaches always suspected they switched jerseys at half-time but could never prove it. They developed a sense of humor very early because they loved playing tricks on people.
After H.S. graduation, they worked in Peoria, IL at Union Pacific Railroad. Their mother was an educator and encouraged them to return to Missouri and attend college. They enrolled in Ozark Baptist College in West Plains, MO. After a few years, they realized they were going to be drafted and they wanted to stay together so they enlisted in the Air Force. They were able to stay together their entire careers in service.
In August 1953, Jack married Anna LaWanda Huddleston. They were promptly assigned to the Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM. Jack and Gene both played for the traveling baseball team. Jack was recruited by the minor leagues but hurt his pitching arm in a tournament and was never able to throw his fastball again. Unfortunately, the Korean Conflict had other plans for the twins.
Jack and Gene were transitioned to Spokane, WA for additional training. They were placed in a Special Forces Unit called The Rangers. They quickly found themselves on a "special cruise ship to Korea". They played a lot of tricks on their Sargent because he could never tell them apart.
Upon returning to the United States, Jack was stationed in San Diego for a short period. Eventually, he returned to MO and enrolled in College at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO on the GI Bill. His brother Gene joined him in a few months and they both pursued degrees in physical education.
In 1957, Jack and LaWanda had a son, William John. Upon graduation, they moved back to West Plains, MO where Jack was the assistant basketball coach to legendary Jim Peters. One of Jack's greatest achievements was when his "B" team entered the WP Tournament because another team had to drop out at the last minute. The final championship game came down to Peter's undefeated WP "A" team and Smoot's "B" team. There was pandemonium in the gym when the "B" team beat the elite, undefeated "A" team. The WP "A" team went on to win third place in the "L" state championship finals later that year.
In 1958, Jack and LaWanda had a daughter, Patricia Margaret. Jack coached several more years in WP until he received a phone call from Superintendent Louis J. Donati, and school board president, Guy Hutchison. He happily accepted the position of head coach and physical education instructor.
One of the first games Jack's Tiger team played was against the Lafayette Lancers in Ellisville, MO. It was coached by his twin brother, Gene. St. James beat the mighty Lancers. Jack's team went 24-0 in conference play that year. He taught physical education and coached softball, baseball, volleyball, and basketball during his two years at St. James High School. At the 50th reunion for the class of 1962, many of Smoot's female P.E. students told him they still hated him for making them run laps up the bleachers.
In 1963, State Farm contacted Jack and he made the very difficult decision to transition into the business sector. He was very proud to work for State Farm. He won many elite awards (Crystal Excellence, Bronze Tablet, and Golden Triangle). While he had a very distinguished career (52 years) with the company, he always missed his coaching years and wondered what might have happened if he had remained in the field.
While his coaching career was short lived in St. James he never forgot the relationships he built. He remained "Coach" to his players until the very end. Jack influenced many students in coaching and employees at State Farm. He took pride in helping several individuals obtain employment from State Farm. He had a reputation for nicknaming everyone he coached and worked with in the insurance industry. His nicknames were occasionally not too politically correct, but they were deeply loved and cherished by those receiving them. He even had nicknames for the nursing staff at the Missouri Veterans Home where he resided for the last eight months.
Jack loved teaching Sunday School for the Boys Town boys at the First Baptist Church where he and LaWanda were members for many years. He had a knack for encouraging others. He always wanted to help young people and felt a tremendous responsibility to influence them in a position way.
Jack's most cherished relationship was with his family – his wife, LaWanda of sixty-three years and his two children, Bill and Patti and his sister, Sue and other extended family members. He was immensely proud of them even though he sometimes had difficulty expressing his love, as did many men of his generation. His smile, laughter and zest for life was contagious. He will be dearly missed by his children and other family members. He always appreciated the people of St. James welcoming his family and supporting them in his coaching and business career.
Jack is survived by his daughter, Patti Smoot, of Chesterfield, MO; son, Bill Smoot and wife Brenda, of St. James, MO; sister, Sue Johnson and husband Jim, of Fort Smith, AR; a host of extended family and many friends. In addition to his parents, Allen and Ellen Smoot, Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife LaWanda Smoot in 2017; twin brother, Robert Gene Smoot in 1999.
Graveside services for Jack will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in Pomona, MO officiated by his sister, Sue Johnson.

Anna "LaWanda" Smoot of St. James, Missouri passed away Friday, March 24, 2017 peacefully at her daughter's home surrounded by her family. Anna LaWanda Huddleston was born on February 22, 1931 in Rover, Missouri to the late Ray and Clara (Young) Huddleston.
On August 8, 1953 Miss Anna LaWanda Huddleston took the hand of Mr. Jack Smoot. This union was blessed with two children.
LaWanda graduated from college with a Masters Degree in Elementry Education. She taught for 30 years in several school districts including the St. James School District. LaWanda started singing in the Rover Baptist Church Choir when she was two. She played piano at the the First Baptist Church in St. James for over 20 years, and was currently a member of the Church of God in St. James. LaWanda was especially devoted to her family and friends. She had a passion for music, gardening, antiquing, and the St. Louis Cardinals. She was a longtime member of the St. James Garden Club.
LaWanda is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jack, of the home; children, Bill Smoot, of St. James, MO, and Patti Smoot, of Chesterfield, MO; sisters, Mary Lou James and husband Eugene, West Plains, MO, Joyce VonAllmen and husband Leowen, of Koshkonong, MO, and Dorothy Barton and husband Gary, of Alton, MO; a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers, Dale and Bobby Huddleston; brothers-in-law, Robert Gene Smoot, and Gerald Pennycuick; sisters-in-law, Betty Ann Smoot, and Nadine Huddleston.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Church of God in St. James, Missouri with Pastor Don Carson officiating. Providing the music selections will be Debbie Morton, Jamie Conkling, Dorothy Barton, and Patti Smoot. Internment will be in Pomona, Missouri at the Howell Memorial Park with Scott Gahr, Lyndon Carson, Don Hughes, Larry Williams, Terry VonAllmen, and David Dale Huddleston serving as pallbearers, and Larry Craft, Hudson Conkling, Stanley Dillon, Bruce Parton, David Seal, Dwight McNeil, Mark Allison, Jeff Jones, Gomer Hancock, and Tim Schnook serving as honorary pallbearers. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary from 4-7PM. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to the St. James High School Music Department, or to St. James Garden Club. Cards are available at all James & Gahr locations.

Contributed on 10/15/22 by mjrwag
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Record #: 829395

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