Jas. E. Smiley

Jas. E. ("Jim") Smiley Jas. E. ("Jim") Smiley, age 82, passed away in Austin on May 7, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Laetitia, who resides in Leander, Texas. Born January 24, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, he earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Illinois after serving his country as a member of the U.S. Army in Japan at the close of World War II. He is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Berneta ("Bonnie") Baumeister; his oldest son, David A. Smiley; and his sister, Mary Kay Curtis. He is survived by his sons Steven Smiley (of Mequon, Wisconsin) and Scott Smiley (of Austin), his daughter Laurianne Smiley D'Arcy (of Dublin, Ireland) and their spouses; his grandchildren, Michael, Mark, Brian, Peter, Jenny and Jack; and his brother, William A. Smiley (of Wausau, Wisconsin). He has three great-grandchildren. His professional career included work for engineering firms in the Chicago area, and culminated with his work as an employee of the City of Austin. He retired from the City of Austin in 1990. A celebration of his life will be held at the First United Methodist Church-- Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca, Austin on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Buckner Villas facility in Austin for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by charitable donations given in memory of Jim Smiley to any of the following entities: First United Methodist Church of Austin-- (designated for the Homeless Breakfast Mission), 1201 Lavaca, Austin, TX 78701; the St. Richard's Episcopal Church, Round Rock, TX, Mission to Galveston, June 2009; or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633.