Steven Tracy Smart

Mr. Steven Tracy Smart, age 60, of Tebbetts, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, in Moniteau County as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Steve was born on January 23, 1958, in Jefferson City, Mo., the son of William Tracy and Peggy Jean (Maddox) Smart. A resident of the central Missouri area for the majority of his life, Steve was a 1976 graduate of Jefferson City High School. During his youth, he developed a passion for farming while partnering with his mother in running the family farm, as well as through his active participation in 4-H livestock activities. This led him to the University of Missouri-Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering in 1979. After graduating from the University of Missouri, Steve moved to Hutchinson, Kansas to begin his career as a design engineer with Cessna Fluid Hydraulics. During his time at Cessna, he was promoted to a senior design engineer and then a project leader in the advanced engineering group. Steve filed two patents: one for a rotary vane pump and the second for a radial piston pump. He was also quite active in several professional organizations; he served as president of the local chapter of the Kansas Engineering Society, was a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineering, and chairman-elect for the state chapter of Professional Engineers in Industry. Steve also earned a private pilot's license and was an active member of the Cessna Employees Flying club. Following his 10 year professional career, he returned home to the family farm in Tebbetts to truly fulfill his passion of farm life and to continue his family's 200-year legacy of raising cattle in Callaway County. Steve had a love of history, enjoyed reading, researching his family's genealogy, and taking on new challenges. In addition to his farming activities, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish two businesses: Smart Soil Services, Inc. and later, Invermos Valley Farms, selling pasture-raised, 100% natural beef. Steve was also very involved in the community. He was a founding member of the Capital City Farmer's Market in Jefferson City and was instrumental in finding a building which enabled the Capital City Farmer's Market to operate and provide fresh meat and produce year round. Steve was a member of the Tebbetts United Methodist Church. Survivors include: two sisters, Susan Martin and her husband Nathan of Centralia, Mo. and Sherry Buck and her husband Jeff of Hopkinton, Massachusetts.; one niece, Elaine Martin and her husband Brendan of Mt. Solon, Virginia; three nephews, Brian Martin and his wife Lynn of Centralia, Mo., Neal Martin and his wife Angela of Centralia, Mo., and Austin Buck of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; his maternal grandparents, William Lee and Virginia Maddox; and his paternal grandparents, D.C. and Edith Smart. Visitation for will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2018. Funeral services celebrating Steve's life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2018, in the Freeman Chapel with Pastor Paul Martin officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Riverview Cemetery in Tebbetts, Mo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Capital City Farmer's Market in Jefferson City. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com