Kenneth Gene Smithee

Kenneth Gene Smithee, 85, a 1959 graduate of Eufaula High School and longtime Seminole resident, went to be with his Lord and Savior, on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at his daughter's home in Seminole. Kenneth was born on Aug 23, 1940 in Eufaula, Oklahoma to Walter Fredrick and Lena May (Rule) Smithee. 

Kenneth married Trena Sue Montgomery on May 15, 1959, in Eufaula, Oklahoma. The young couple met at a Eufaula Ironhead HS football game; Kenneth said when he saw Trena that night, light illuminated all around her, and he knew she was the one. He also added that he couldn't tell you anything else about that night's game! Kenneth was well known in the Seminole business community in the 70's and 80's as the "Coca-Cola Man". He ran the delivery route throughout Seminole county for Shawnee Bottling. Shortly after retiring from there in the late 90’s he worked at his sister’s and her husband’s landmark convenience store “Breedlove’s” for many years. He enjoyed greeting people he knew from years past and making new friends while working at the store. Kenneth lived in Seminole for over 60 years and was a deacon at Temple of Praise Pentecostal Church of God for many years. He later co-pastored, with his wife Trena, the God’s Lighthouse Church west of Seminole for over 9 years. Kenneth was currently a member of the Temple of Praise Pentecostal Church of God in Seminole. Kenneth enjoyed mending fences, building barns, taking care of livestock, even raising 8,000 chickens a year on their 5 acres west of the city. Kenneth literally built his family a home on Cleary St., passing on valuable skills and life lessons along with moral and work values to his children with every project. He enjoyed gardening, buying or selling at swap auctions and cattle auctions or just attending one to run into old friends and former route customers. 

Kenneth is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Welch of Seminole, Oklahoma and Kelly Houck of Newalla, Oklahoma; four sons, Ronald Smithee and his wife Connie of Wichita Falls, Texas, Darrell Smithee and his wife Tammy of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mark Smithee and his wife April of Choctaw, Oklahoma and Mike Smithee; two sisters Janice Breedlove of Seminole, Oklahoma and Janetta Montgomery of Yukon, Oklahoma; 16 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and many other family and friends. Ken was preceded in death by his spouse and his parents.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Ron Smithee, Darrell Smithee, Mark Smithee, Blake Houck, Jeremiah Welch and Brett Breedlove.

Viewing will be from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, OK. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026 at Starting Point (Temple of Praise) in Seminole. Pastor Jeff Nance will be officiating. Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Seminole, Oklahoma.