Obituary for Francis James Smouse
Aurora, Ohio- Francis James Smouse, 95, of South Chillicothe Road passed away Friday, April 12th, 2019 at the Ahuja Medical Center at 7:45 a.m. following a stroke.
Born December 24, 1923 at Smiths Ferry, Pennsylvania he was a son of the late Harry and Reba Smith Smouse.
A 1942 graduate of East Liverpool High School, he played football for the Potters under Coach Joe Morbito throughout his scholastic career. He then entered Youngstown College where his education was interrupted by World War II after one semester.
From 1943 to 1945 he served in the United States Merchant Marines, making numerous trips to Russia, England, Italy, Africa and South America on tankers and merchant ships. Following the service, he returned to Youngstown College where he played football for Coach Dike Beede until his graduation in 1949.
He then commenced a teaching and coaching career at Hubbard Junior High School, Coshocton High School and then at East Liverpool High School where he was an assistant football coach to Bob Gibson.
In 1954-55, he was the head coach at Ravenna High School and then became assistant to head coach Trevor Rees at Kent State University from 1956-67, where he earned his Master’s Degree. While at Kent State, he began working for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 as a coach and scout. He retired from the university in 1979. At this point in his life, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals full time as a scout and assistant player personnel director until 2001 under the legendary Coach and owner Paul Brown.
A member of the United Church of Christ in Kent, Ohio, he was also a member of the NFL Organization, Portage County Retired Teachers Association, Kent State University Retired Faculty Association, Youngstown State University Alumni, Kent State University Alumni and the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association. He has been named a member of the East Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Portage County Hall of Fame and was named Professor Emeritus at Kent State University.
Preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Knowles Greene Smouse, whom he married March 27, 1944, she died in 2017.
There are three children, F. Jeffrey Smouse and his wife, Cathy of Sanford, North Carolina, M. Lynne Smouse and her husband, Hector Lopez of Portland, Oregon, and Barbara Anne Colucci and her husband, Douglas of Stony Brook, New York.
In addition there are six grandchildren, Scott Smouse and his wife, Carey, Bryan Smouse and his wife, Emily, Alex Colucci and his wife, Amanda and Ryan Colucci, Kamil Lopez and Nichole Smouse-Lopez; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler Smouse, Harrison Smouse, Aiden Smouse, Nyleah Lopez, Thomas and Hope Dalton.
Besides his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
A Celebration of Life with his daughter, the Reverend Lynne Smouse Lopez officiating is planned for Monday, June 17th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 East Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.
The Dawson Funeral Home in East Liverpool, Ohio is in charge of all arrangements.
The family requests contributions be made to Family & Community Services, Inc., 143 Gougler Avenue, Kent, Ohio 44240 or to the church.
Born December 24, 1923 at Smiths Ferry, Pennsylvania he was a son of the late Harry and Reba Smith Smouse.
A 1942 graduate of East Liverpool High School, he played football for the Potters under Coach Joe Morbito throughout his scholastic career. He then entered Youngstown College where his education was interrupted by World War II after one semester.
From 1943 to 1945 he served in the United States Merchant Marines, making numerous trips to Russia, England, Italy, Africa and South America on tankers and merchant ships. Following the service, he returned to Youngstown College where he played football for Coach Dike Beede until his graduation in 1949.
He then commenced a teaching and coaching career at Hubbard Junior High School, Coshocton High School and then at East Liverpool High School where he was an assistant football coach to Bob Gibson.
In 1954-55, he was the head coach at Ravenna High School and then became assistant to head coach Trevor Rees at Kent State University from 1956-67, where he earned his Master’s Degree. While at Kent State, he began working for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 as a coach and scout. He retired from the university in 1979. At this point in his life, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals full time as a scout and assistant player personnel director until 2001 under the legendary Coach and owner Paul Brown.
A member of the United Church of Christ in Kent, Ohio, he was also a member of the NFL Organization, Portage County Retired Teachers Association, Kent State University Retired Faculty Association, Youngstown State University Alumni, Kent State University Alumni and the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association. He has been named a member of the East Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Portage County Hall of Fame and was named Professor Emeritus at Kent State University.
Preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Knowles Greene Smouse, whom he married March 27, 1944, she died in 2017.
There are three children, F. Jeffrey Smouse and his wife, Cathy of Sanford, North Carolina, M. Lynne Smouse and her husband, Hector Lopez of Portland, Oregon, and Barbara Anne Colucci and her husband, Douglas of Stony Brook, New York.
In addition there are six grandchildren, Scott Smouse and his wife, Carey, Bryan Smouse and his wife, Emily, Alex Colucci and his wife, Amanda and Ryan Colucci, Kamil Lopez and Nichole Smouse-Lopez; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler Smouse, Harrison Smouse, Aiden Smouse, Nyleah Lopez, Thomas and Hope Dalton.
Besides his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
A Celebration of Life with his daughter, the Reverend Lynne Smouse Lopez officiating is planned for Monday, June 17th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 East Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.
The Dawson Funeral Home in East Liverpool, Ohio is in charge of all arrangements.
The family requests contributions be made to Family & Community Services, Inc., 143 Gougler Avenue, Kent, Ohio 44240 or to the church.