Reverend James “Jim” Smith, 89, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 in Fort Smith. He was born on June 17,1931 in Hartford, Kentucky to George E. and Mary E. (Mattox) Smith. He married Betty Jean (Coppage) Smith on June 24, 1959 in Owensboro, Kentucky. James was a pastor for many years at Barrenfork in Folson, IN, Peoples Holiness Church in Henderson, KY and Bethel Tabernacle Church in Vandalia, IL and Woodland Hills Pentecostal, Roland, OK , served as the Chaplain of the hospital in Vandalia and retired from Whirlpool after 39 years. James was a 32nd Degree Mason and Past Patron of the Eastern Star, a member of the American Welding Society and a life member of the American Legion Frank Gladd Post 20 in Fort Gibson, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, three sons, Karl, Nathanial and Phillip; two sisters, Geneva Sanders and Inez Farmer, and two brothers, Ronda and Roscoe Smith.
Funeral services are 12:00 p.m., Monday, June 7, 2021 at River of Life Church with burial with honors at 2:00 p.m. in the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
The family will visit with friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.
James is survived by his three sons, Randall “Penky” Smith and Edmond “Ed” Smith both of Fort Smith and Timothy “Tim” Smith and his wife Tracey of Fort Gibson, OK; six grandchildren, Cody, Sierra Emery, Alexis, Shelbey and Katie Smith and Dallas Cox and five great grandchildren, Gage, Noah, Laney, Michael and Ariel and adoptive grandparent to Kirby McAlister.
Pallbearers are Cody Smith, Dustin and Gage Emery, Dallas Cox, Tucker Sheets and Larry Bottoms.