JOHN PAUL SMEAD

John Paul Smead, 86, of Warrensburg, Missouri died suddenly on Monday, October 28 in Cozumel, Mexico. He died doing what he loved best, traveling and having adventures with family.

A visitation and funeral service will be held at Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., 612 W. Foxwood Dr., Raymore, Missouri 64083. The visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. with funeral following at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Raymore Cemetery, Raymore, Missouri.

He was born on October 8, 1938, in Saginaw, Michigan to Cecil and Mildred (Lesh) Smead.

He attended the University of Michigan and completed his doctoral thesis on the filmmaker and actor Charlie Chaplin. In 1966 he began his teaching career at Boise State College, in Idaho. After four years he moved his young family to Warrensburg in 1970 and taught another 40 years at the University of Central Missouri. Following his retirement in 2010 he continued teaching as adjunct faculty until 2017.

John was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed teaching and was known for entertaining his students while teaching them. He was an avid photographer and videographer. He directed several short films, some with the assistance of his students.

He was a long-time member and elder of Countryside Bible Church in Peculiar, Missouri.

He leaves behind to mourn him his wife of 58 years, Shirley (nee Miller); three children, David (Lisa Bennett) of Decatur, Georgia; Daniel (Carolyn) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Sarah (Dave Weibel) of Kansas City, Missouri; and two grandchildren, Jeremiah and Deborah, also of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Atlanta Bible College or Countryside Bible Church. Pastor Dale H Swartz will officiate the funeral service.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278