Karol "Smiley" Welker was born on October 18, 1942, at Patton, Missouri, the son of George and Esther Welker, and passed away on November 5, 2024, at the age of 82 years.

Smiley was preceded in death by his parents, three (3) sisters, Vera Bishop, Verna Gloth, Joy Bollinger, and two (2) brothers, Paul Welker, and Perry Welker.

Smiley is survived by two (2) sons, Dewey (Mary) Welker, Steve Welker, one (1) brother, Darrel (Carol) Welker, one (1) sister, Mary Jane Ehlers, four (4) grandchildren, Lyndsie (Patrick) Elfen, Natalie Burns, Rachael Hicks, Bradley (Irma) Welker, and seventeen (17) great-grandchildren.

Smiley was of the Christian Faith, and he enjoyed tractor pulling with his sons.