John G Smiley, 81, of Yorktown and formerly of New Castle, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at Morrison Woods in Muncie. He was born on July 30, 1941 in Rushville, Indiana, the son of Gerald Emerson and Maxine (Walker) Smiley.
He moved to New Castle at the early age of four years where he attended New Castle schools and graduated from New Castle High School in 1959. In his interesting and varied life, he attended Ball State University in 1959 and 1960. He joined the US Army and after 3 years in the 101st Army Airbourne Division he returned to Indiana.
In 1964, John began a 10-year career at GM in Anderson, Indiana as a supervisor in production control. In 1974, he joined Loveless Construction Company as Vice President. Pursuing the next 16 years, he helped develop, build and manage a large number of apartments throughout Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. In 1989, John founded his own company CMC Company Inc and was involved in single family housing as well as several medical and professional buildings. He has been a real estate broker since the mid 1970’s and a member of the Indiana Board of Realtors. He was very active in both the Henry County Homebuilders and the Indiana State Homebuilders Association, serving as a member of the Executive Board for several years. John served on New Castle Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals for several years. He has been a life member of the American Legion and served as commander and executor board member. He was a master mason at the Greensboro Lodge. John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and participated in church building missions to Mexico.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, golf, and has been an avid collector of Coca Cola and 50’s memorabilia for many years.
He has been the proud husband of his beloved wife, Anita, since 1984. Together they enjoyed traveling, hiking, gardening, reading, homebuilding and decorating. He is also survived by a daughter Staci (Steve) Slavin of Muncie; son, Shaane Smiley of Hickory, North Carolina; stepson, Scott (Kim) Fields of West Lafayette, Indiana. He was a proud grandfather to four granddaughters; Lily Fields, Savannah Smiley, Jada Smiley and Chloe Smiley; five grandsons; Jackson Fields, Christopher Fields, Elijah Fields, Stephen Slavin and Benjamin (fiancé: Kaelyn Hewitt) Slavin; brother, Jeff (Kathy) Smiley; brother-in-law, David Meredith; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by sisters, Claudia Rogers, Sally Meredith, Ann Stamps and Susan Clayborn; stepson, Randy Fields.
Services will be at 1:00 PM, Wednesday January 25, 2023, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Reverend Michael Hewitt officiating. You may also view the service remotely via livestream. A link can found at www.hinsey-brown.com in John’s obituary. Burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 PM -8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at the funeral home. Military honors will be conducted by the US Army and the New Castle American Legion. Memorial contributions can be given in honor of John to the Henry County Community Foundation, Smiley Family Fund, PO Box 6006, New Castle, Indiana 47362; the Smiley Family Fund provides funding for the “Teacher of the Year” award. You may express condolences or share a memory of John at www.hinsey-brown.com.
John believed that life was a journey of faith to the paradise we all have been promised by the Creator.