Obituaries

Keneth Smith

Photo of Keneth Smith
Keneth Smith, 88, of Tichnor, passed away Sept. 14, 2010 in DeWitt. He was born in Stuttgart on Nov. 20, 1921 as son to parents P.M. and Violet Smith. He lived his boyhood years there and became a graduate of Stuttgart High school in 1939. He worked the family farm during those years and learned to love the soil, later moving to Carlisle helping on the farm there until beginning service in the Air Force in 1942 where he was stationed in India. He worked as an airplane mechanic on planes serving in the Himalayan Mountains flying delivery missions over the "Hump." After the war he continued the love and devotion to farming, that becoming a lifelong pursuit. He married Ethel Mae Johnson Dec. 1, 1946 in Carlisle, officiate Richard Perry. His family, listed below, wants you to know they received from this man all that God can give because that is what he was to everyone he met. Keneth is survived by his wife, Ethel Mae; by two sons, Phil and wife, Debby of Stuttgart, Larry and wife, Wendy of Tichnor. Also there are seven grandchildren, Allison Smith and husband, Chad of Bentonville, Melissa Smith and husband, Jason of Watson, Jennifer Ferguson and husband, Adam of Tiller, Jessica Westerman and husband, Adam of Conway, Abby Smith of Little Rock, Daniel Smith and wife, Haley of Tichnor and Alex Smith of Little Rock. There are now five active great-grandchildren, Emma Smith, Ryan Smith, Addison Westerman, Layne Smith and Grace Ferguson. Other survivors are Frances Smith of Carlisle, sister-in-law, and Alice Patton of Brandon, Miss., sister-in-law, and other nephews, nieces, and cousins. Keneth's interests, outside farming, brought the same high dedication while serving many years on the boards of Riceland Electric Cooperative, Planters and Merchants Bank, Ticknor Drier and Storage, and Arkansas Electric Cooperative. His insight and leadership in those roles were valued by members and customers that he understood to be the ones he was serving. His charitable heart was just as generous while giving time to service as the local Cub Scout director and many titles with his Church as a redeemed child of God. His pursuit of farming, beginning as a youngster in Stuttgart, was very active, continuing until age 86 and still on the rice levies and in the combine. In 1980 the Keneth Smith Family was named the Arkansas "Farm Family of the Year," an honor greatly appreciated and supported by his annual attendance at the recognition's of later recipients. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17th at Gillett United Methodist Church, 301 W. Leslie with burial at Gillett Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home, DeWitt. Visitation is 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Gillett Methodist Church, P.O. Box 88, Gillett, Ark. 72055 or DeWitt Hospital, P.O. Box 32, DeWitt, Ark. 72042.

Published September 16, 2010

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