Funeral services for Lonell Lee Smith will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden with Pastor Paul Gray and Phillip Baker officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. at Pines Memorial Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral in Minden. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden.
Lonell was born March 13, 1922 in Delhi and entered into rest Oct. 30, 2016 in Minden. He served his country with honor in the United States Coast Guard on the USS Emporia during WWII. His ship was credited with destroying a German U boat off the coast of Boston. He returned home after the war and began working at International Paper Company, retiring in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Nell Smith and daughters Glenda Smith Baker and Nancy Smith Grant.
He is survived by his daughters, Ginger Gray and husband Paul of Minden, Pamela Killough of Ruston, and Judy Taylor and husband Bill of Branson, Missouri, sons-in-law Johnny Baker of Ruston and Benny Grant of Taylor, Arkansas, sisters, Annie Ray and husband Lewis of Taylor, Arkansas, Fannie Jones and husband Lindale of Morgan City, brothers Billy Smith and wife Emily of Springhill and W.D. Smith and Kathryn of Ruston, grandchildren, Phillip Baker and wife Laura, Eric Baker and wife Leah, Michael Tamashiro, Robert Whitehead and wife Lynea, Melonie Himel and husband Shane, David Wells and wife Amy, Joel Gray and wife Serena, Jordan Gray, and Isabella Gray, and great-grandchildren, Keegan, Madisen, McKinley, and Erica Baker, Ty and Garrett Himel, Ella and Madelyn Whitehead and Monty and Mick Wells.
The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to the caring staff at Savannah Court, Jennifer Sones, Sheri McLemore, Aime Hospice and caregivers Patrice Brittian, Angela Hight and Karen Keys.