In the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, in the small steel mill
town of Midland, Movie “Moe” Fremon Smith, Jr., made his appearance on this
earth on July 2, 1941. He came into this
world as the highly anticipated first-born son of Azlee (née Samuels) and the namesake of, Movie Fremon
Smith, Sr. The fifth of six siblings which included big sisters Betty Jean
(Goss), Maxine (Nunn), Shirley Ernestine (Johnson) deceased, Movie Ferdena “Dena”
(Skipper) and little brother Willis Samuel “Sammy”. Thriving in the love of a
close-knit family and raised in the Christian faith as a member of the First
Baptist Church of Midland, Moe (lovingly nicknamed “Sonny”), was a spirited,
intellectually curious and athletically-gifted child. Excelling at a host of
sports, he found his athletic calling on the football field in elementary
school and then in high school as a defensive lineman and fullback. A
formidable force on the gridiron, Moe accumulated numerous victories (and would
later be inducted into the Midland High School Athletes’ Hall of Fame) and
subsequently earned a full scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. As a
Bearcat, the scholar-athlete became a brother in the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity
and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
town of Midland, Movie “Moe” Fremon Smith, Jr., made his appearance on this
earth on July 2, 1941. He came into this
world as the highly anticipated first-born son of Azlee (née Samuels) and the namesake of, Movie Fremon
Smith, Sr. The fifth of six siblings which included big sisters Betty Jean
(Goss), Maxine (Nunn), Shirley Ernestine (Johnson) deceased, Movie Ferdena “Dena”
(Skipper) and little brother Willis Samuel “Sammy”. Thriving in the love of a
close-knit family and raised in the Christian faith as a member of the First
Baptist Church of Midland, Moe (lovingly nicknamed “Sonny”), was a spirited,
intellectually curious and athletically-gifted child. Excelling at a host of
sports, he found his athletic calling on the football field in elementary
school and then in high school as a defensive lineman and fullback. A
formidable force on the gridiron, Moe accumulated numerous victories (and would
later be inducted into the Midland High School Athletes’ Hall of Fame) and
subsequently earned a full scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. As a
Bearcat, the scholar-athlete became a brother in the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity
and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
After graduation, Moe enlisted as a proud member of the United
States Marine Corps Reserve, attaining the rank of sergeant and some time later
he would proudly enlist as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard. Continuing
in the vein of law and order, he became a probation officer for the Hamilton
County Juvenile Court.
States Marine Corps Reserve, attaining the rank of sergeant and some time later
he would proudly enlist as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard. Continuing
in the vein of law and order, he became a probation officer for the Hamilton
County Juvenile Court.
Service to his country did not deter Moe from pursuing a personal life
and on May 8, 1968 he proposed to newly-minted registered nurse,
Geraldine “Geri” Patricia (née Wiles) at the overlook in Eden Park. Three
months later, Moe and Geri married on August 10, 1968. Three years later Moe
became a first-time father with the arrival of daughter Staci Raquel, followed by
the birth of daughter Shanda Renee and after that he would welcome his only
son, Movie Fremon, III.
and on May 8, 1968 he proposed to newly-minted registered nurse,
Geraldine “Geri” Patricia (née Wiles) at the overlook in Eden Park. Three
months later, Moe and Geri married on August 10, 1968. Three years later Moe
became a first-time father with the arrival of daughter Staci Raquel, followed by
the birth of daughter Shanda Renee and after that he would welcome his only
son, Movie Fremon, III.
Employed in the public sector, Moe transitioned to the private sphere
where he became a Labor Relations Representative for General Electric in
Evendale, Ohio, to ensure a fair and safe working environment for the company’s
employees. He later made a lateral career move to the aviation industry where Moe
was named Materials Purchaser and then promoted to Purchasing Manager of jet
engine parts at Electro-Jet Tool Company, also in Evendale, Ohio. It was from
Electro-Jet that Moe retired after having worked there for over two decades.
where he became a Labor Relations Representative for General Electric in
Evendale, Ohio, to ensure a fair and safe working environment for the company’s
employees. He later made a lateral career move to the aviation industry where Moe
was named Materials Purchaser and then promoted to Purchasing Manager of jet
engine parts at Electro-Jet Tool Company, also in Evendale, Ohio. It was from
Electro-Jet that Moe retired after having worked there for over two decades.
Retirement, however, was anything
but dull for Moe. He drove a motor
coach part-time for a local charter company, Executive Transportation Service,
which he thoroughly enjoyed. Never one to meet a stranger, Moe looked forward
to interacting with passengers of varying backgrounds and cultures from all
over the globe. Retirement also allowed him ample time to truly enjoy
his domain of over forty years, his home. His yard was his sanctuary in which
he tooled about year-round. Not content to just be a homebody, Moe was a nature
buff, curious about the world and it’s inhabitants, both big and small. He
loved to fish, go camping, to travel by air, sea and land, both domestically
and internationally. A history enthusiast, he was particularly fascinated by
the events of the Second World War and was an expert on it’s military history. Also
an armchair political analyst, he fastidiously followed current events as well.
but dull for Moe. He drove a motor
coach part-time for a local charter company, Executive Transportation Service,
which he thoroughly enjoyed. Never one to meet a stranger, Moe looked forward
to interacting with passengers of varying backgrounds and cultures from all
over the globe. Retirement also allowed him ample time to truly enjoy
his domain of over forty years, his home. His yard was his sanctuary in which
he tooled about year-round. Not content to just be a homebody, Moe was a nature
buff, curious about the world and it’s inhabitants, both big and small. He
loved to fish, go camping, to travel by air, sea and land, both domestically
and internationally. A history enthusiast, he was particularly fascinated by
the events of the Second World War and was an expert on it’s military history. Also
an armchair political analyst, he fastidiously followed current events as well.
Passionate about his ancestral
roots, Moe was a student of the African-American experience, particularly it’s
musical heritage. He was an aficionado of gospel music, particularly the Negro
spiritual. He tirelessly mined the internet for online archives of
performances. He would excitedly happen upon archival recordings and footage,
sometimes scratchy or grainy, of singers, musical groups and choirs of bygone
eras. In addition, he sang with the Men’s Chorus of the First Baptist Church of
Oakley of which he was a member for almost fifteen years. At home, his beloved
grandchildren ranging in age from toddler to teen; granddaughters Inaya Adeye,
Sylmira Ayo and Syllah Ari and grandson Mason Movie, provided sweet musical
accompaniment to his deep bass singing voice.
roots, Moe was a student of the African-American experience, particularly it’s
musical heritage. He was an aficionado of gospel music, particularly the Negro
spiritual. He tirelessly mined the internet for online archives of
performances. He would excitedly happen upon archival recordings and footage,
sometimes scratchy or grainy, of singers, musical groups and choirs of bygone
eras. In addition, he sang with the Men’s Chorus of the First Baptist Church of
Oakley of which he was a member for almost fifteen years. At home, his beloved
grandchildren ranging in age from toddler to teen; granddaughters Inaya Adeye,
Sylmira Ayo and Syllah Ari and grandson Mason Movie, provided sweet musical
accompaniment to his deep bass singing voice.
Moe fought valiantly and admirably
with quiet strength and grace against pancreatic cancer. He never once faltered
in his faith, even in the throes of weakness brought on by chemotherapy and the disease itself. After a brief period of convalescence, Movie peacefully
passed away at home on Sunday, January 15th, surrounded at his
bedside by his loving wife, children and grandchildren.
with quiet strength and grace against pancreatic cancer. He never once faltered
in his faith, even in the throes of weakness brought on by chemotherapy and the disease itself. After a brief period of convalescence, Movie peacefully
passed away at home on Sunday, January 15th, surrounded at his
bedside by his loving wife, children and grandchildren.
Moe is survived by his wife, three children, one daughter-in-law, four
grandchildren, three sisters, one brother and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins and longtime friends.
grandchildren, three sisters, one brother and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins and longtime friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations in
Moe’s name be made to the American Cancer Society at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pxfid=1085443&pg=fund&fr_id=9910
to assist in the battle against the prevalent scourge of cancer. Moe’s family
would also like to thank everyone for all of their heartfelt prayers,
well-wishes and kind words.
Moe’s name be made to the American Cancer Society at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pxfid=1085443&pg=fund&fr_id=9910
to assist in the battle against the prevalent scourge of cancer. Moe’s family
would also like to thank everyone for all of their heartfelt prayers,
well-wishes and kind words.
Condolence(1)-
Michael Smith says
June 17, 2018 at 2:00 pmI have fond memories of Movie as a coworker with my father Ray Smith at Electro Jet in Evendale, Ohio. I was just a child and teenager then, but when I think of the amazing group of guys who made amazing things there, Movie is right there in the images and videos in my mind. I wish I would have known of his passing at the time to pay respect then, years ago now, but I will always respect Movie for his contributions that also impacted my father’s life in great ways. They were brilliant guys doing brilliant things in an incredible era for the aerospace industry.