Anthony Lee "Tony" Smith

Anthony Lee “Tony” Smith was born on December 21, 1933, in Jesup, Lawrence County, Arkansas, and went to be with the Lord and his loving wife Dorothy on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 4 days, while at The Arbors West Ridge Place, in Sikeston, Missouri.  

Tony was the third child of James Lee “Jay” and Thelma Pearl Simpson Smith. He had two older sisters, Ramona and Rita, and then Anna Jane came along five years after Tony was born. He was the grandchild of Little Bee “LB” and Ada Elizabeth Sparks Smith; and Enoch Oscar “EO” and Artie Belle Howard Simpson.

Tony grew up in Jesup, met Dorothy Louise Reeves from Dowdy, and in August of 1954, they were married at the Jesup Methodist Church. The next year, Tony joined the United States Navy, and was stationed in San Diego, CA, and in the territory of Hawaii. Tony met Monroe Smith, from Alicia, Arkansas, while he was in the Navy – they became best friends for life during this time. He declined to re-enlist in 1957, and came home to his lovely wife, and worked in Peoria, Illinois for a while.

In 1958 Tony and Dorothy were fortunate enough to add a new person to their family – their daughter, Sandra. He worked with Jack Sisk (first cousin by marriage) at Caterpillar in Illinois, and all of them would ride home to Arkansas together to visit. Tony promised his mother that he would move his little family back home to Arkansas by the time Sandra was ready to start school, and he did just that.

Tony went to work, in June of 1965, at what was then Aerojet in Batesville. He was a foreman over a line that made bombs or bomb parts. The company changed their name to General Tire and Rubber Company, and Tony stayed with them. Later they became GenCorp. The whole time that Tony worked “in town”, he also farmed 200 acres in the river bottoms near Dowdy. Tony retired from GenCorp in December of 1995.

Tony was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Dorothy Reeves Smith; his parents, J.L. and Pearl Smith; and his sisters Ramona Smith Mueller and Rita Smith Spotts. He is survived by daughter Sandy and her husband John Hall of Bertrand, Missouri; granddaughter, Jamie and her husband Gary Scott; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor (Jason) Schiwitz of East Prairie, Garrison and Strykar Scott both of Bertrand, Missouri. Tony is also survived by his sister Anna Jane and her husband Melvin Creekmore of Jesup, Arkansas, and by many more relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Qualls Batesville Funeral Service Chapel in Batesville with Bro. Jackie Pickett officiating. Burial will follow in the Lancaster Cemetery located at Strawberry.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Lancaster Cemetery Fund, c/o Bank of Cave City, AR, PO Box 206, Strawberry, AR 72469.

Pallbearers will be Howard Weaver, Royce Bradley, Randy Bradley, Tanner Bradley, Justin Melton and Ronnie Melton.