Samuel Smith Jr., 68, was born December 13, 1948 in Saint Louis, MO to the union of Mary Alice Clay and Samuel Smith, Sr. and departed this life on September 30, 2017 in Kansas City, MO. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his brother, Gregory Smith; granddaughter, Sara Jones and nephew, Andre Jones. He had two sons, Brian and Duane, with Beverly Jones and in 1980, married Marilynn Freeman with whom he had one daughter, Dionne. Sam was educated in the Saint Louis Public School System and graduated from Soldan High School in 1966. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1969 where he served a two-year tour of duty in Germany during the Vietnam War. During his service, he received the National Defense Service Medal, as well as M16 Sharpshooter and M14 Marksman Weapons Qualification Badges. He was honorably discharged in 1971 and decided to attend Harris Teachers College in Saint Louis where he graduated with a B.A. in Education in 1974. Sam then moved to Kansas City in 1975 where he pursued his M.S. in Human Resources Management from the University of Utah, graduating in 1977. He worked for the Federal Government for 30 years, starting in the Social Security Administration, then moving to the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging from which he retired in 2008. Sam was a passionate music lover with tastes ranging from old school soul music to East Coast hip hop. He was also an avid sports fan and loved staying abreast of current events by reading daily newspapers from across the country. To all who knew him, he was the epitome of "cool". Sam leaves to cherish his memory: two sons, Brian Jones and Duane Jones; one daughter, Dionne Smith; four grandchildren, DeAndre, Deijah, Destiny and Briah Jones; two nieces, LaJuanna Jones and Whitney Smith; two great nephews, David Shelton, II and Christian Sulton; life partner, Jennifer Powell and a host of cousins, family and friends. Memorial services Monday, October 16, 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 1111 Dr. R.B. Lyles Drive, East St Louis, IL 62201. Final disposition Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Services conducted by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors. Condolences may be shared on our website.