FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Doyle Rayvon Smith, age 76, passed away on Nov. 24, 2021. He was born to the late Clarence Oliver Smith and Fern Hazel Dirks on Nov. 10, 1945, in Great Bend, Kan. He grew up working on the family farm in western Kansas and attended Bethel College for two years, where he met his wife, Janice. After transferring to Kansas State University, he earned his Agricultural Engineering degree in 1970. The family lived in several locations throughout Doyle’s career. In the early 1970s, he worked at the Krause Milling soybean manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, Wisc. He soon relocated to Logansport, Ind., where he helped build and manage their new soybean processing plant. Both of their daughters, Dea and Tarryn, were born during those years. Doyle, Jan, and the girls then moved to Decatur, Ind. in 1978, when Doyle became the superintendent of Central Soya’s multi-purpose soybean operation there. In 1985, the family transferred to Indianapolis, Ind., where Doyle served as the manager of their inner-city soybean plant. They returned to Decatur, Ind., in 1987, when Doyle became plant manager of Central Soya’s largest facility. He remained in that position throughout the rest of his employment years, including during the company’s buyout by the Bunge Corporation in 2004. Doyle gave his signature presentations of overall plant processes to almost all domestic and international visitors. He retired in 2008. 

Doyle is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janice “Jan” Graber Smith; daughters, Dea Smith and Tarryn (Michael) Wallin; granddaughters, Savannah and Amelia Wallin; brother, Corydon (Sandra) Smith; sister, Barbara Kuenne; brother-in-law, Larry (Jacqueline) Graber; sister-in-law, Gloria (Jory) Popp; devoted nieces and nephews Stephanie Smith, Lori (Tom) McCroskey, Michael Graber, Stephen (Katherine) Graber, Aaron (Sue) Graber, Ginger (Winston) Clay, Nathan (Adriana) Popp, and Rachelle (Joel) Ball; plus his numerous beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by sister-in-law, Anita Graber, and brother-in-law, Tom Kuenne. 

A Memorial Service to celebrate Doyle’s life will be at 11 a.m. (CST) on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. (CST). It will be officiated by Pastors Harry Stambaugh and Charlie Weir. A private burial will be held for the family the day prior. Memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse via Doyle’s memorial page at https://sampur.se/31nPIn2 or to their mailing address, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Williamson Memorial Funeral Home

3009 Columbia Avenue 

Franklin, TN 37064

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 7, 2022