Sgt. Major (Ret.) Billy Ray Smith
Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory, 1301 Neal Metcalf Road, Enterprise, AL 36330Viewed: 1802
Posted by: MikeThompson
[email protected]
(334) 393-2273 or (334) 347-2517
Date: Jun 05 2013 3:56 PM
Sgt. Major (Ret.) Billy Ray Smith, age 74, of Daleville, AL, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, June 7, 2013, at Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel with Reverend John McCollough officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Thursday, June 6th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to: First United Methodist Church, 44 South Daleville Ave., Daleville, AL 36322 or to: DaySpring Hospice, 201 West Lee Street, Enterprise, AL 36330.
Sgt. Major Smith was born in Elba, AL on February 5, 1939. He spent 31 years in the Army, retiring in 1995. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, one tour of duty in Desert Storm /Desert Shield, and two tours in Germany, where he held various positions, including S-3 NCOIC, 101st Air Assault Division Aviation Brigade Operations NCOIC, and Flight Operations Detachment NCOIC. Stateside tours of duty include assignments at Ft. Hood, Texas, Edwards Air Force Base, California, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Ft. Rucker, Alabama, where he held various positions, including Crew Chief, Platoon Sergeant, and Maintenance NCOIC of the Army Aviation Test Board. Prior to his assignment as Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation, SGM Major Smith served as the Deputy Director of the Department of Enlisted Training, Ft. Rucker, Alabama. During his career, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Desert Storm/Desert Shield Campaign Me dal. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge 903 and VFW Post 6020 in Daleville.
Preceding him in death were his mother, Mattie Thelma (Thomas) Smith; father, James Robert Smith; four brothers, Grady, Louie, Charles, and Roy Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Lela Frances Smith, Daleville, AL; daughter, Denise Anora Gicker, Avon Park, FL; two sons, Kyle Ray Smith (Barbara) Enterprise, AL; James Robert (JR) Smith (Amy) Columbia, SC; one step-son, William Ernest (Ernie) Rollins (Kathy) Enterprise, AL; eight grandchildren, Amanda Cambell, Avon Park, FL; Bryan Gicker, Avon Park, FL; Brandon and Emilia Smith, Enterprise, AL; Brent Smith, Nashville, TN; Katelynn and Jack Smith, Columbia, SC; Lindsey Rollins, Enterprise, AL; one great-grandchild, Kaleigh Cambell, Avon Park, Fl; one brother, Donald Smith (Loretta) Sebring, FL; two sisters, Faye Gray and Kathy Jarvis (Bob) Avon Park, FL; special family, Robert (Bob) and Annette White, Enterprise, AL; also several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to say a special thank you to DaySpring Hospice for their dedication and loving care that was given to their loved one.
You may sign the register book or send condolences to the family at our website: www.searcyfuneralhome.com.
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