Byron W. Smiley

BYRON W. SMILEY, age 69, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, from complications during a double lung transplant. He was born on Jan. 4, 1942, in Wynne, Ark., to Vance and Helen Smiley. In 1965 he married Linda Matthews Smiley in Smackover, Ark. He graduated from Hope High School and got his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas. He worked for Campbell's Soup in Arkansas and Nebraska and upon returning to Arkansas in 1969 he began work for Allied Telephone Company. In 1974 he began work for Stephens, Inc., later becoming a Vice President. After leaving Stephens, Inc., he bought a manufacturing company in Hope, Ark., Unitemp Dry Kilns, Inc., which he owned until retirement in 2007. Byron is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Smiley; three children, Samuel Chase Smiley (Amy), David Smiley (Alison), Sara Duplantis (Andrew) and ten grandchildren. Also, surviving are his two brothers, Walter Smiley Jr., Wayne M. Smiley, and one sister, Sarah Smiley. Visitation will be at The Summit Church, 6600 Crystal Hill Rd, North Little Rock, Ark. 72118, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 30. Funeral and burial services will be private. While the family would enjoy beautiful flowers they would prefer a lasting tribute be made to the Summit Church and in the memo put "Suriname". The funds have been designated to go toward his son David's ministry in Suriname, South America.