1943 – 2022
JONESBORO – Ted Smith, 78, of Jonesboro died June 21, 2022.
Born Dec. 16, 1943, in Piggott, to Elvera and Ralph Smith, he was an Army veteran of Vietnam, serving in the military police and a longtime, dedicated member of Jonesboro Christian Church. He had a true servant's heart.
He grew up on a farm in Greenway and attended Arkansas State University. He spent his career working for the United States Department of Agriculture, retiring as executive director of Craighead County Farm Service Agency.
He also had a small cattle farm and loved making a garden.
Ted was unfailingly kind, always humble and made people laugh with his perfectly timed witty comments. A wonderful cook, family and friends often requested his famous sourdough bread and vegetable soup.
Most of all, he was a supportive and loving husband, dad and Paw Paw.
Survivors include the love of his life, his wife of 52 years, Bonnie Smith; a daughter, Tammy Keith (David) of Conway; a son, Dr. Shane Smith (Lesley) of Jonesboro; four grandsons, John Keith (Brandi) and Scott Keith, all of Conway and Seb and Barrett Smith, both of Jonesboro; a great-granddaughter, Kennedy Keith of Conway; a sister, Judy Holcomb (Larry) of Piggott; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Ellen Renfro of Branson, Mo.; three nieces, Stacey Baldwin (Danny) of Piggott, Stacy DeBose of Springfield, Mo., and Amy Dering (Nicole) of Bartlett, Tenn.; a nephew, Trent Holcomb (Michelle) of Piggott; several great-nieces; and one great-great-niece.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Bernards Medical Center and the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House for their excellent care.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Jonesboro Memorial Park, 3910 Harrisburg Road.
Pallbearers will be John Keith, Scott Keith, Seb Smith, Trent Holcomb, Jerry Golden and James Douglas Davis.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Scott Dickson, Dr. Brian Bailey, Dr. Mazen Khalil and the men of Jonesboro Christian Church.
Donations may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 8401 Colesville Road, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or online, www.phassociation.org; or to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 1148 E. Matthews Ave., Jonesboro 72401.
Online registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com
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