James David Smiley, of Arvada CO, died Sunday, May 12, 2019, from natural causes. Jim was born in Eureka, IL in 1930 to Lucie and Alex Smellie. He attended Eureka High School. In 1950 he married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara McKinney, and they raised three children, Glen, Roger, and Laura. His career included engineering work for Little Giant in Peoria, IL, and Allis Chalmers in Matteson, IL. Throughout his life, Jim cherished family togetherness and road trips of all sorts. He enjoyed the outdoors, as well as woodworking and mechanical projects, especially with his children and grandchildren. Retirement years included moves first to Florida, then to Colorado, where they resided in Pueblo West and Arvada. During his retirement he enjoyed doing electrical work and driving a bulldozer. Jim is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Smiley. He is survived by children Glen Smiley, Roger Smiley, and Laura Smiley Jurgens, and grandchildren Dale Smiley and Alex Smiley. The family will celebrate his life at a May gathering to spread his and Barbara’s ashes in one of their favorite places in the Colorado mountains.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James David Smiley, please visit our flower store.