Bobby Dean Smith

Funeral services for Bobby Dean Smith, 70, of Fairview, will be 10:30 am, Thursday, the time Bobby started his cattle sales, December 31, 2020 at the Fairview High School Gym with burial following in the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements by Fairview Funeral Home Inc. Watch live at fairviewyellowjackets.tv

Bobby Dean Smith was born November 24, 1950 in Watonga, Oklahoma to Robert “Bob” and Doris Dean (Story) Smith and passed away on December 27, 2020 at the Fairview Regional Medical Center. Bobby’s last moments were coyote hunting with Buddy, Al, Tim, Jeff and Brandon on Sunday morning December 27, 2020. He had turned out his dogs to catch a coyote then shortly veered off the road.

Bobby graduated from Fairview High School in 1969 and attended Southwestern State University until his father became ill with cancer and passed away. At the age of 22, he was appointed to the Fairview School Board to take his father’s seat after he passed away. He was the youngest school board member in the state, when his brother Buddy graduated from high school, Bobby was able to hand him his diploma. Bobby was then elected to the school board in 1975 and was currently serving. Bobby was then able to hand his daughter, Carri her diploma on her graduation in 2006.

Bobby’s father Bob Smith owned and operated the Fairview Sale Barn until he became ill with cancer and sold it in 1967, but was able to watched Bobby, at the age of 17, get up in the auction box with no formal training and started auctioneering. Bobby partnered with Bob Anderson and repurchased the sale barn in 1975. He owned the Fairview Sale Barn and Bob Smith Real Estate and Auction for 43 years, 1975 until he sold the sale barn in January 2018. Bobby was an outstanding auctioneer. Bobby held numerous household and farm sales with Buddy as his ring man. The sale barn was his life and could remember every head of cattle that came thru the ring, whose cattle they were, and what they brought.

Bobby loved to rope. He started team roping in school with his brother Buddy till 1990. The Smith Family was one of the families that started the Fairview Wranglers and were strong members and supporter in putting on the Fairview Rodeo until 1991. Bobby and Buddy would travel to rodeos around the state and surrounding states team roping. They would be at the sale barn during the week for the sale on Thursday then load their horses and be off to rodeo Friday and Saturday night. They practiced or went to jackpot team roping on Sunday and Monday. Bobby knew everyone at the rodeo along with the stock contractors and cowboys.

Senator Mague appointed Bobby to the Oklahoma Beef Council where he served two 3 year terms. He then served two 3 year terms as the Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association representative of the Oklahoma Beef Council. He was a member of the Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association for 40 years, served on the board for 30 years. He served as president in 1998-2000.

Bobby became a member of the Livestock Marketing Association in 1979. He was elected to the LMA board in 2002, where he served on the membership services committee and as chairman of the LMA’s World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Committee. He was honored to serve as vice president of the Livestock Marketing Association for two years before beginning his two year term as president in 2008-2010. Following his presidency, he served a two year term as chairman of the board.

This year was the first year he was unable to attend National Finals Rodeo when the event moved to Texas last minute due to COVID. Bobby and Buddy would attend every night possible when it was in Oklahoma. After it moved to Las Vegas Bobby and Sharie would fly out on Friday for the night performances of the NFR, fly home on Tuesday, have the Sale on Thursday and then fly back to Las Vegas on Friday for the finals of the NFR.

Bobby had the unbelievable ability to remember. No matter where he traveled, he would run into someone that he knew or someone they knew in common. He was a strong supporter of the kids in FFA and 4-H. He donated many hours of his service auctioning the FFA slave & bonus auctions, also pies for the Fairview Firefighters Chili and Stew Supper. He donated thousands of pounds of ground beef for community events.

He received numerous awards through the years are; Major County Honorary 4-H Member 1979-1980; Honorary Major County 4-H Horse Club Member 1980; Major County 4-H Distinguished Service Award 2000, Fairview FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer 1975; Honorary State Farmer Degree 1986, FFA Eagle Award 1989; FFA Blue & Gold Award 1992; Fairview Honorary Letterman; Oklahoma All-State School Board award 2014 for outstanding service to public education.

Bobby loved fishing and always had to be first, first to the dock, first in the boat, first to catch a fish, he just had to be first. There were many things that Bobby loved, but his grandkids were at the top of the list. His grandkids knew him as Pa and they were his Pal and Partner. He looked forward for every second they got to spend time together. Bobby made many friends and will be truly missed.

Bobby is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sharie (Grabow) Smith of the home, his daughter: Carri and husband Terry Pike of Fairview, OK., grandchildren Kinsley Jo Pike and Weston Waynne Pike also of Fairview, sister Connie and husband Zoai Lonigan of Loyal, OK, brother: Buddy Smith & Linda Howerton of Fairview, OK and his niece: Renee and Mike Eberhadrt of Yukon, OK., and their children Rachel and Blake Eberhadrt of Weatherford, OK.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com