Jessie L. 'œJL' Smith 72, of Erie, Michigan, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Jessie was born on September 12, 1942 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to Lewis and Grace (Hendrix) Smith. In 1952, he moved to Toledo, Ohio. He began his career as a paperboy for the Toledo Blade, where he delivered to Inky'™s Restaurant and a lifelong friendship was established. On November 24, 1962, he married Melva Whitmill. Jessie was employed with Deveaux TV, Wolverine Express, McLean Trucking, and retired from 1st Express Trucking in 2008 after 44 years of driving. In the 1960'™s he owned and operated a Gulf Oil Station at Hawk and Lewis Avenues. Jessie served as president of the Roy C. Start Booster'™s Club from 1983-1987, Union Steward for Teamsters Local 20 from the late 1970'™s to early 1980'™s, and was a member of Echo Meadows Church of Christ for over 50 years. His hobbies included: reading; especially newspapers, watching college football, cheering on the Detroit Tigers, fishing, and cooking his famous Hobo Dinners. His true passion was spending time with his grandchildren who brought him much joy. Jessie is survived by his wife of 51 years, Melva; children, Jeannie (Arnold) Oberski and Eddie (Teri) Smith; grandchildren, Kayla, Angie, Zach, Ellice, Eddie, Renee, Michael, Ethan, Bri, Hunter, Renae, Rachal, Doris, Chuck, Andy, and Jessi; great-grandson, Koltyn; father-in-law, Ronald Whitmill; nieces, Pam Smith, Debbie (Ray) Jeffers, and Glenda Moyer; nephew, Glenn (Lisa) Smith; cousins, Vickie (Bill) Leeper and Eddie (Sandra) Cleghorn; along with many loving family members and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marcia Smith; brother, Billy Smith; along with special aunt and uncle, Kathaleen (Johnny) Cleghorn. Friends may call at the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Road on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 11:00 am in Echo Meadows Church of Christ, 2905 Starr Avenue, Oregon, where the family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to Echo Meadows Church of Christ or Promedica Ebeid Hospice. Jessie'™s family wishes to thank the staff of Promedica Toledo Hospital 4th Floor Orthopedics for the exceptional care and the staff of Promedica Ebeid Hospice for the outstanding care and support. Visitation: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home 440 S. Coy Road Oregon, Ohio 43616 Services: Tuesday, October 22, 2014 11:00 am Echo Meadows Church of Christ 2905 Starr Avenue Oregon, Ohio 43616 Interment: Ottawa Hills Memorial Park