Lester E. Smiley Jr., 77, of DuBois died Wednesday at his residence.
He was born on Dec. 26, 1933 and was the son of the late Lester E. and Florence (Horm) Smiley Sr.
Mr. Smiley retired as a heavy equipment operator and was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 66 Union. In 1967, he became a union business agent, overseeing a six-county area.
He was an avid artist, specializing in political and children’s cartoons. He made his mark throughout DuBois by making many signs and murals for area businesses.
In his younger days, he was an avid stock-car racer. In addition, he was involved in Democratic politics and functions on a local, county, state and national level.
On Oct. 9, 1954, he married Joann (Brancato) Smiley and who preceded him in death on July 24, 2007.
Mr. Smiley is survived by three daughters, Leslee Ann Silva and her husband, Renato of Norristown; Sheree Lynne Smiley and her partner, Kathleen Horton of Richmond, CA; and Stacee Jo White and her husband, Jim of Orange Park, FL; two sisters, Dolores Smiley of Brookville and Betty Peace of Tonawanda, NY; and two grandchildren, Taylor and Bronson White.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
Visitation will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Sunday at the Goble-Baronick Funeral Home, DuBois.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Msgr. Richard Siefer officiating.
Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Lester E. Smiley Jr. Scholarship Fund, C/O the DuBois Democratic Committee, P.O. Box 210, DuBois, PA 15801.
Online condolences can be sent to www.gbfuneralhome.com.