Oct. 13, 1927 — Aug. 5, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for John Harvey Smith, 86, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 11:30 a.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Edward Bolin officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith was born Oct. 13, 1927, in Bouge Chitto, the son of Harvey Smith and Vergie Hart Smith.

He was a beloved husband to his wife, Peggy, for 65 wonderful years.

He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to all who knew him.

He grew up on a farm in Bouge Chitto. In 1956, he moved his family to Natchez, and opened his roofing, sheet metal and air conditioning business, Smith Sheet Metal Works.

He served his country in the U.S. Navy. One of his greatest memories was getting through the Panama Canal while serving on the U.S.S. Wisconsin.

Nothing brought more joy to his life than to spend time with his precious family at the lake house on Lake St. John, going to every sporting event that his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have participated in, and especially play the card game “Boo-Ray” with his wife, children and grandchildren.

He took the greatest pride in any work that needed to be done over the years. This included his business, his home, his garden and his yard work. He never came across anything that he couldn’t accomplish or fix.

He will greatly be missed and thought of often for his unconditional love and kindness, especially by his sweet wife and family.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bob Smith and Jere Smith; and two sisters, Phillis Hale and Vergie Mae Smith.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Smith; two sons, Steve Smith and wife, Kathy, and Pat Smith and wife, Cindy; three daughters, Jeannie Rushing and husband, Clovis, Gail Stallone and husband, Adrian, and Julia Burns and husband, Max; eight grandsons, Byron Garrity and wife, April, Brandon Garrity and wife, Brandi, Justin Garrity and wife, Lauren, Adrian Stallone and wife, Jaimie, Jody Stallone and wife, Caitlin, Stevie Smith and wife, Jeanne, Travis Smith and wife, Laura, and Patrick Smith; three granddaughters, Amy Peters and husband, Ryan, Lauren Burns and Allyson Elliot and husband, Adam; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Inez Gardner.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Byron Garrity, Adrian Stallone, Brandon Garrity, Justin Garrity, Jody Stallone, Stevie Smith, Travis Smith and Patrick Smith.

Memorials may be mad to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be made to lairdfh.com.