Funeral services for Emmit Smith, 98, will be held
Monday, March 21, 2016, at 10 am at Big Hammock Baptist Church in Leander. Burial will follow in the Smith Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 20, 2016, from 5 pm
until 10 pm at the church.
On November 1, 1917, Emmit Smith was born. He was called home on March 18, 2016, to be with Jesus and the love of his life Faye (his Dolly). He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend. He was the
greatest PawPaw that ever lived.
He was a 98-year-old World War II veteran. He enlisted March 16, 1942. His separation date was September 28, 1945. He was Private First Class Company B, 62nd Armored Infantry Battalion. His service
included the Battle of the Bulge. He fought on the front line and witnessed the white flag being raised. He was honorably discharged and presented with a Purple Heart and Good Conduct Metal.
He retired from Civil Service at Fort
Polk.
He was a life-long member of Big Hammock Baptist Church. He enjoyed working on his farm and gardening. Everyone who knew him knows that he loved to build fences and individual cattle stalls for feeding and using all of the scrap
panel slabs that he could get his hands on. You could very often see him at ballgames cheering on his grandkids and great-great grandkids. He was our hero and our biggest fan.
Emmit was preceded in death by the love of his wife, Faye, who
he was married to for 61 wonderful years; his parents, Will and Alice Smith; infant grandsons, Roger Gene and Rodney Gene Smith; his four brothers, James, Mid, Coloh and Alvin Smith; and three sisters, Alice Adams, Irene Merchant, and Willie Johnson.
He was the last of his siblings to leave this earth.
Those left to cherish his memories are; son, Frankie Gene Smith & wife, Elaine of Leander; daughter, Carolyn Sue Smith of LaCamp; granddaughters, Jan Turnage and husband, Russell,
Margaret Nichols and husband, Kenneth, Susan Gordy and husband Pappy, Joyce Counts and husband, Michael, Kelly Davis and husband David; 13 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great- grandchildren and Parker on the way.
Pallbearers will be,
Patrick Turnage, Josh Gordy, Russell Turnage, Pappy Gordy, Brian Dousey and Benji Rhame. Honorary Pallbearers will be, Michael Counts, Charlie Dowden, Chris Chapman, Mickey Poe, Kenneth Nichols, Garret Morris, Justin Herbert, Shawn Wellman, Michael
Rhame and David Davis.
A Special thanks to caregiver Connie Harper.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Smith Family at www.labbymemorial.com