Harley was born March 6, 1931, on a farm southwest of Hill City, Kansas, to Florence and Alfred Smith. Harley was the sixth of eight children. He began schooling in a country schoolhouse south of Hill City and finished at Osborne and Downs schools.
On August 20, 1950, he was united in marriage to Cleora Bliss. To this union three children were born: Twins, Rodney Eugene and Roger Dean, and their youngest Richard (Rick) Allen.
On August 13, 1951, Harley entered the U.S. Army. He took basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, then he served in the Korean War as a medic. He was honorably discharged after 21 months of service with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served his country with great pride.
After returning home from the war he was employed by Adrian Schweitzer Construction Company of Osborne doing highway construction in various parts of the state. When Adrian sold his construction business, Harley took over the insurance agency owned by E.J. Bliss and became an agent for Farmers Mutual Insurance Company which later was renamed American Family Insurance Company. While working in the insurance agency, he was appointed by the U.S. Postal Service as a substitute clerk-carrier in the Osborne Post Office. He served in that position until he was appointed as a Rural Route Carrier for Route 1 out of Osborne. He was active in the Rural Carrier Organization serving the State Board for seven years and served as president for two years, and in 1984 he was named Kansas Outstanding Carrier of the Year. He thoroughly enjoyed his job with the postal service and retired as a Rural Route Carrier of Route #1 in 1994.
He was active in the Lions Club, serving in all offices of the local chapter. He was appointed Zone Chair for Region 2, Zone 2, of the Lions Club for 12 years, and served as a board member for Solomon Valley Home for several years. He was a member of the Osborne Country Club and enjoyed golfing with his friends almost everyday. He was a member of Saqui Lodge #160 in Osborne for several years. He was a life member of the Osborne VFW Post and also a member of the American Legion Post #49.
Harley was active in the local Assembly of God Church after joining in 1950. He served several years as a Sunday School Teacher, a Youth Group Sponsor, served on the church board as a deacon, and then served as church treasurer from 1978 through 2009. He was very faithful in attending church.
Harley’s greatest love was for his God, his wife Cleora, and his family. He was so proud of his sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Harley was preceded in death by his beloved wife Cleora, his son Rodney, his mother and father, brothers Calvin, James, Virgil, Roy, Virgil, and Willis and his sisters Mary Belville and Maxine Headley, and sister-in-law Corrina Seaman. Survivors include his son Roger and wife Neta, of Topeka, his son Rick and wife Deanna, of Hays, his daughter-in-law Roxanne Smith of Olathe, his sister-in-law Adelia (Dee Dee) Grieve, grandchildren Amanda and husband Mark Wilson, of Topeka, Ryan and wife Nomi Smith, of Leawood, Jared Smith of Topeka, Chris and wife Linh Smith of Olathe, Holly and husband Tanner Cook of Prairie Village, Abby and husband Derek Tate of Olathe, Andrew and wife Sammy Smith of Lawrence. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Graham, Elia, Heidi, Presley, Violet, Lucy, Hadley, Penelope, Drew, Aiden, and Archer.
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