Gregory Giles Smith

Gregory Giles Smith, 60, died March 10, 2012 surrounded by friends and family at the University of Oklahoma Medical center in Oklahoma City, Okla. A visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, March 15th from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorial service will be held on Friday, March 16th at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00pm. Services and cremation are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Greg was born on September 1, 1951 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to the late Elmer and Dorothy Smith. He attended elementary school, junior high and high school all in Fort Smith, and subsequently attended college and law school at Georgetown University where he graduated in 1977. After completing his degrees, Greg dedicated himself to being a faithful and hardworking member of the Fort Smith community. As a 30-year attorney and partner at Robertson, Beasley, Smith & Cowan, PLLC law firm, Greg often provided pro bono services to the Arkansas Valley Lawyers for the Elderly. Outside of his profession, Greg also served as a Board Member for Arkansas Legal Services, Habitat for Humanity, the Fort Smith Public Library, the Sebastian County Democratic Central Committee, the Community Rescue Mission, the Fort Smith Museum of History, and the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club. As a true lover of the outdoors and everything natural, Greg's most devoted passion lay in the beautification of Fort Smith, the town he grew up in and loved. Greg organized a group of citizens to form a nonprofit organization, Park Partners, and since 2007 he and various Fort Smithians, among them the town's Eagle Scouts and community service volunteers, cleared and restored the Ruth Armstrong Nature area next to Creekmore Park and the Old Railroad Trail that starts at Free Ferry Road and ends at Park Avenue. For his services, Greg was recently awarded the Noble Cause Award in 2011, which honors those who are making notable efforts to improve their community by helping others. There will be a ceremony honoring Greg's work on March 29th at Second Street Live at 5:30 p.m. Greg is survived by his wife, Sue Plattner-Smith; five children, Helen Smith, Adam Plattner (spouse, Nancy Plattner), Ross Plattner (fiancé, Diana Frieberg), Brad Plattner (fiancé Brandi Timmerman), and Seth Plattner; sister, Marsha Smith (spouse, Rainer Huemer; daughter, Madeline Smith-Huemer); and three grandchildren, Jack Plattner, Liam Plattner, and Owen Plattner, with Charlie Plattner on the way. Donations may be made to Park Partners of Fort Smith, Inc, P.O. Box 934, Fort Smith, Ark. 72902; and The Fort Smith Girls and Boys Club, 4905 North O Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 72904. The family also graciously asks that if you haven't already, please consider becoming an organ donor. The degree to which one individual's sacrifice can help a family in need is, indeed, immeasurable. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.