Mr. Clovis Byron Smith, 95 of Symsonia, Ky passed peacefully from this life to the next on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, KY, with family by his side.
Born Saturday, December 5, 1925 in Marshall County, Kentucky, Clovis was the son of the late H. Bert Smith and the late Nellie (Kelley) Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife and the love of his life, Emma Josephine Smith.
While Clovis and Jo had no biological children themselves, they helped to raise and nurture their many nieces and nephews, loving them and treating them as their own. Uncle Clovis and Aunt Josephine’s house was a second home for generations of children, and Uncle Clovis’ prize-winning mules and blue heelers were a particular favorite with the kids.
Uncle Clovis, as he was known by most, was a faithful member of the New Harmony Baptist Church. He was a man who worked by the sweat of his brow, as the Bible says: a farmer and construction worker, as well as an exceptional mule puller. He didn’t care to display a trophy if it wasn’t for first place-he didn’t have the space!
Uncle Clovis was always quick-witted and full of humor. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Clovis was a loving uncle to all of his Smith family nieces and nephews, as well as their children. He was especially close to his nephew, the late Marshall Fisk, and his wife Carol, and considered them as his own son and daughter. He is survived by Carol and her children, Lisa (Randy) Mason, Jennifer Fisk, and Steve (Angie) Fisk, as well as his great-great nieces and nephews, to whom he was like another grandfather: Emily Jo (J.T.) Baker, Jacob (Savannah) Mason, Nathan Mason, Taylor (Shawn) Schuring, Trevor Fisk, Chloe Kerrick, and Parker Kerrick.
Uncle Clovis was preceded in death by four brothers-Buran Smith, Sherman Smith, Rollie Smith, and Junior Smith-and three sisters-Esther Fisk, Louis Thompson, and Hontus McGregor. He was the youngest of the eight Smith children.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, and the Stilley House in Benton, for their kindness and care for Clovis during his time of transition.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of the
Collier Funeral Home in Benton, KY with Rev. Scott Penick officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Benton, KY.
Friends may visit with the family between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Collier Funeral Home, 211 West 5th St., Benton, KY 42025.
The family asks that memorial donations may be made in Clovis’ honor to the Hillcrest Cemetery Fund, c/o Garry Smith 86 New Harmony Road, Benton, KY 42025.