Tomarken Smith funeral set; Northwest Missouri to hold bell-ringing

MARYVILLE, Mo. - A Northwest Missouri State University student who died when attacked outside a bar near campus will be laid to rest next week in his hometown of St. Louis, the school announced Tuesday.

Tomarken Smith was assaulted by two men after leaving Molly’s in downtown Maryville a little after 1 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, police and prosecutors say.

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Smith was a senior pre-professional major, an active member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a former resident assistant. He also worked at the student fitness center.

"The Missouri Lambda Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is deeply saddened by the loss of our brother,” said Chase Adams, the president of the Northwest chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon in a statement.

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The fraternity’s Alumni Board has set up a fund to assist Smith's family. Monetary donations may be made to:

Tomarken Smith Memorial Fund
c/o Citizens Bank and Trust
105 N. Main St.
Maryville, MO 64468

Smith’s visitation and funeral service will be held Monday, Sept. 24, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 3040 Hickory St., in St. Louis.

The visitation begins at 10 a.m. with the service at 11. Burial will be held immediately after the service at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Road, in St. Louis.

Acting on wishes of Smith’s family, the school is organizing a centralized method of the offering of cards and notes in the Northwest Missouri State University Office of Campus Activities, who will collect them until Wednesday, Sept. 19.

A bell-ringing will be held on campus, university officials say, but a date has yet to be determined.