Burdette Chief Smart

Burdette Lee Smart was born on March 6, 1948 in Montgomery County, Red Oak, Iowa, to Kenneth Dean and Esther Mable Smart. Burdette Lee was called home to be with the Lord and Savior on January 18, 2018 at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was reunited with his Father and older brother Kennie Dean. Burdette would be the second son of five children born to this union.
Burdette was baptized and confirmed in the First United Methodist Church in Corning, Iowa at an early age.
Burdette attended grade school and high school at Corning Community Schools graduating in 1968. He was always true to the Corning Red Raiders. He was on the football and wrestling team and supported them yearly. He could always be found taking pictures of the team and those attending Prom. He enjoyed visiting with the young men whose fathers he had grown up with. His love of football would stay with him. On weekends, he always enjoyed a good Pro game on TV. He traveled to Seattle, Washington to watch his Sea Hawks play.
At a young age he delivered the weekly Creston New Advertiser. During this time he became the friend and helper of his elderly customers. Daily he had chores he did for some of his customers. He would become a lover of animals. Funny how they always followed him home, of course, with a little help. He always had a beloved four legged friend who went everywhere with him. For a short time he worked at the Hy-Vee Food Store. After graduation in 1968 he worked at D L in Red Oak.
In 1969 Burdette would enlist in the United States Army and spend four years at various bases in the United States and finished his tour in South Korea. After returning home, he spent a year working back at D L. During a layoff period he started College at Southwestern Community College graduating with a welding degree in 1970 - 1971. He attended and graduated from Refrigeration School in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the summer of 1974 he would enlist in the United States Navy and spent many years on the USS Sampson stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. He had the talent to do underwater welding and did so, many times, on ships and submarines. It was in 1974 he would marry Barbara Harris and to this union one son was born. Kenneth Dean II. This marriage would later end in a divorce. In the summer of 1980 he would transfer to the United States Coast Guard out of Seattle, Washington. There he would retire in 1992 as a Chief. He joined the Merchant Seaman in 1992 and would again travel the world seeing other parts of the world retiring as a Seaman in 2004. He enjoyed telling people of his many trips while in the services and as a Merchant Seaman. I’m sure that if there were a ship path within the ocean, Burdette had traveled it. He knew people from all over the world and would hear from many of them to this day. In 1993 he purchased his home in Prescott, Iowa where he would make his home until his death.
Burdette was a member of the Corning American Legion, Creston American Legion and the VFW in Creston, Iowa.
Burdette had many hobbies; he loved trapping at a young age, fishing trips and hunting with his brothers and friends when he was able. Many trips were taken to Minnesota to catch that big one. He liked to collect stamps from all over the world. Trips were made to visit Navy buddies in Idaho, Washington and Montana. A good country music song would play on the radio in his trucks.
His brother Donald and nephew Nickolas would become his right hand help. Making sure that he had everything that he needed.
Burdette is survived by his beloved mother Esther Mable of Corning, Iowa, His son Kenneth Dean, his two brothers Mickey and wife Carol of Brooks, Iowa, and Donald and wife Sharon of Prescott, Iowa, his one sister Mary and Juan of Corning, Iowa, and his companion dog, Sebotka. His nieces and nephews Jeffrey Allen and wife Angie of Pocahontas, Ill, James Andrew and wife Melissa of Bridgewater, Iowa, Kylee Smart Castello and husband Seth of New Market, Nicholas Smart of Prescott, Eric Smart and special friend Nikki Seberger of Creston, Iowa, Matthew Smart of Prescott, Judith and her husband Jeremy Butcher of Corning. Great nephews and nieces, Zane, Hayden, Vincent, and Joseph Smart of Springfield, Ill., Vicente and Averyle Butcher of Corning , Augustus (Gus) Castello of New Market and Azelia Seberger of Creston. A host of relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Those that have gone before him were his father Kenneth, on April 5, 1996, brother Kennie on April 19, 1989. Many uncles and aunts, cousins and friends.
The world was my friend and for there I shall travel to the ends of the earth until we should all meet again in our father beloved land. Hold tight to your loved ones and stay close with your friends, for the Lord only knows when your time will end.