William Raymond "Billy" Smith, 69 of Holden, Missouri passed away Thursday, January 17, 2018 at his home.

Billy was born October 9, 1949 at Mt. Vernon, New York. He served in the United States Army from November of 1969 to August of 1971. He was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal and also, a campaign medal. Upon returning to the US, Billy lived in Austin, Texas for a few years prior to relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. There he began a long career in animal care, working at the Atlanta Humane Society Shelter and later, at Buckwood Boarding Kennel as a resident manager. Billy and his wife of twenty seven years, Marcia, met in 1985 on a fundraising benefit hike for a private animal shelter.

Marcia had written an article about the upcoming event for "Creative Loafing", a local newspaper. After reading it, Billy decided to attend along with his Pekingese, Shakespeare, and a week later the couple went on their first date, to a Braves baseball game. In 1987, Billy moved to Athens, Georgia and Marcia moved to the Kansas City area in 1988. They continued their relationship long distance until their wedding in Atlanta in 1991. While residing in Kansas City, Billy worked for several years at Wayside Waifs. He also worked six years at Nelson Rolf Animal Shelter in Warsaw. In 2003, he began working for the State Line Animal Hospital in Leawood, Kansas retiring in early 2018. The couple had resided near Holden since 1995.

The Smiths loved to travel. Their vacations took them to the "Redneck Riviera" in northwest Florida, Cajun country in Louisiana; Pikes Peak, Colorado, Lake Superior in both Minnesota and Canada, Alaska in 1996, 2003 and 2016 and a number of Missouri state parks. Their home always included dogs, both their own and foster animals.

Memorial Services and interment will take place in Georgia at a later date.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to Old Drum & Friends Animal Shelter in Warrensburg in care of Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden.

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net