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For current updates on the efforts of Chuck Smiley museum for USS Midway, please click on this link http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050213/7.html
Born in Clio, Louisiana February 28, 1905, Boone Smiley was the youngest of 10 children of John and Mary Smiley. In 1920, he traveled to Oklahoma to work during the summer for his brother, Norman Smiley. Thus began a career he followed for 47 years until his retirement. In 1929 while working near Konawa, Oklahoma he met and married Era Opal Foster who remained the love of his life. They subsequently lived and worked in Texas, Louisiana and West Virginia. In 1929, he was one of the 2 drillers on the Mary Sudik #1 the discovery well for the Oklahoma City oil field. It was to become famous as the “Wild Mary Sudik” when it blew oil 11 days. His brother in law, Wilbur “Doc” Ellis was the other driller and his brother, Norman, was a partner in Kahle and Smiley Drilling Company which drilled the well under contract to the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company. In addition to Norman, 2 of his brothers were in the oil business and 3 of his sisters married oil men. In 1939, he joined Falcon Seaboard Drilling Company and, except for 2 short periods, was associated with them until 1967 when he retired as Drilling Superintendent of the Mid Continent Division. In 1970 Boone and Era moved to Bonita, California and lived there until 1992 when they relocated to Hurst, Texas. They were members of the First Baptist Church of Bedford.
On June 23, 75 members of the John Smiley family joined Boone and Era in celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary Boone Smiley was a man of integrity whose word was his bond. Respected and admired by his associates for his fair dealing, he earned an enviable reputation as “a oil man’s oil man”. First and foremost however he was a family man whose unselfish and constant love endeared him to his wife, Era, his son and daughter in law Charles and Sally Smiley of San Diego, California, daughter and son in law Ann and Bill Hilton of Hurst, Texas, daughter Nancy Smiley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
The
Derrick of the Prairie
Boone
Smiley Memorial Service
August
25, 2001
Psalm 73:26 (KJV)
My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
On March 26, 1930, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Mary Sudick #1 oil derrick erupted and began running wild for 11 days straight. The oil came thundering out of the ground so high, downtown Oklahoma City itself was covered with what the oilmen used to refer to as “Black Gold.” The Oklahoma City Times reported 3,000 barrels of oil an hour were spraying across the prairie hills of southern Oklahoma City. Clothes hanging to dry, cars parked at the capitol, and even planes flying out of local airports were all affected by this enormous eruption. Another report claimed the spouting oil pillar reached 400 feet in the air, soaking and coating everything it touched. While the city clamored on what to do, two drillers at the bottom of the derrick were already at work trying to alleviate the problem. Even though one of them went home before she blew her top, he had quickly returned to help and try to cap her off. In the middle of the prairie hills of Oklahoma – standing taller than any derrick ever dared – was none other than our dear beloved, Boone Smiley.
This morning, we gather to remember and celebrate the life of this wonderful man. Boone Smiley stood extremely tall throughout his entire life. He was most assuredly a man of enormous wealth, not necessarily by the world’s standards, but certainly by spiritual standards. From what I have gathered, he seemed to model his life after the passage of Scripture his mother so cherished, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). There is no doubting the facts, Boone Smiley lived that verse every day of his life. Selflessly, he placed himself on the altar of humility, so that others might enjoy life around him.
In many different ways, Boone stood as tall as the derricks of Oklahoma when they blanketed the state so long ago during the oil boom of the 1930’s. Back then, in the middle of parries all across the Sooner State, you couldn’t pass by without seeing one of those enormous structures standing tall in the prairie winds. It is this picture of an oil derrick standing strong and tall within the prairie hills of Oklahoma that I wish to look at Boone’s life and how he touched us all.
Boone, more than anything else, stood tall as a loving husband. Looking through his Bible of the last years, he wrote these words about his darling bride Era, “Thank you dear God for giving Era to me many, many years ago. I do love her so much.” The entry was dated October 3, 2000. Oh, how he loved his wife. And who didn’t hear him refer to Era, again and again, as the love of his life? How they have loved one another for seventy-two years is simply beautiful. Era, you and your husband have touched us all.
Not
only was Boone a man who loved his wife dearly, he loved his children as any
proud father would. Boone Smiley
stood ten-feet tall in the role of father.
If you don’t believe me, just ask his kids.
Sitting and visiting with his children this week, I couldn’t help but
smile as they remembered the life of their Dad.
As the reminisced, you couldn’t help but hear the love in their voice
as they spoke ever so fondly of him. Story
after story they recalled, remembering what a good and faithful father he was.
They said of him, “He was the only father in town who would be the drop-off and pick-up
driver for when they and their friends wanted to go do something in town.”
Era and the children also tell me, Boone stood as tall as ever did when he played the role of grandfather and great-grandfather. I know he had a special relationship with each and every one of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You were special to him, everyday of his life.
When I think of Boone’s family, I can’t help but think of the oil boom in the 1930’s. Back then in Oklahoma, all across the state oil derricks stood as far as the eye can see. It is that picture which comes to mind when I think of Boone and Eras’ family; each one of them standing tall as Boone has taught them.
There is no disputing truth, I guess; Boone Smiley was a great man indeed. The text for the message this morning, I believe, seems to capture the essence and appeal of this great man of God. As Boone stood tall throughout his entire life he did so with an inner strength that humanity has a difficult time understanding. If you’re asking yourself the source of Boone’s strength – no matter if he were playing the role of husband, father, grandparent, Oklahoma driller, Good Samaritan, or Christian – his strength was found in his relationship with Jesus Christ.
The psalmist writes, “God is the strength of our heart and our portion forever.” When we attend memorial services such as this, we often find ourselves assessing our own mortality. We find ourselves evaluating the way we are living life. As we remember Boone, this derrick of the prairie and of life, I believe it good for us to see how we compare. I think it important we ask of ourselves, “Who is the strength of our lives?” Hopefully, as Boone made us understand in his life and the psalmist pens in his writings, God will forever be enough.
For many, many years Boone Smiley traveled all across the prairie hills drilling deep holes into the earth in hopes to find the “black gold” everyone sought. Along those same lines, I believe no one can dispute the many holes he drilled into peoples’ hearts. Anyone who encountered this gentle, yet enormous man immediately was touched by his kindness and his compassion. I think I have come to understand his passion for drilling into to our hearts like he did, because he had had his heart drilled into long ago with love of Jesus Christ. This morning, I think it wise of us to stop and take a look at life about us. There will come a day when we all will breathe our last, but even though our flesh and heart may fail, there will be nothing to separate us from the love of God. In Boone’s Bible he had marked this verse, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38). More than anything else in than past days, I have come to understand this verse to a greater degree.
I often return to Oklahoma to visit my own family. The next time I do I will be certain to look out my window and take notice of the old oil derricks that are still standing tall. I am certain that when I see them, I will think of this great man of God – this Derrick of the Prairie. May we be as faithful and strong as he? Amen
BLACK GOLD
My
Grandpa hopped a freight train
And came up from Louisian.’.
He’d heard about the oil patch
And the gold under the land.
He left behind his Ma and Pa
When he was just fifteen.
Came to Oklahoma
To chase a wildcat dream.
Chorus:
Black Gold
Running through his veins.
Black Gold
This land won’t be the same.
Men came here from everywhere
Back in the days of old.
To hunt and scratch out in the patch
Lookin’ for Black Gold.
He
started as a roughneck
As soon as he arrived.
Then became a driller
In 1925.
He met a girl in Konawa
And took her for a wife.
I don’t think my Grandma knew
About an oil man’s life.
Things
in Oklahoma
Ain’t the way they used to be.
The oil we get comes on a ship
From far across the sea.
But talk to them old oil men
And when their tales are told
You’ll understand this prairie land
Was built upon Black Gold.
From the song “Black Gold”
Written by John Cooper, Grandson
As
told to him by Boone Smiley
For those of you who are country music fans (and even those who aren't), this is to let you know that John Cooper and his Red Dirt Rangers will be opening for Willie Nelson March 13th and 14th in Tulsa, OK. John is Nancy's son and you can read all about him and the Rangers by visiting their site at www.reddirtrangers.com
Uncle Boone Summer 2000
Era Smiley's 90th Birthday, June 16, 2000
Change of Address
Chuck and Sally Smiley just joined the ranks of the URBANITES moving to a loft in Downtown San Diego. Please e-mail us for his new address.