Cary Smith

CARY SMITH COWARD, SOUTH CAROLINA CARY SMITH, 97, of Coward, passed away Saturday, December 1, 2012 in the McLeod Hospice House after an illness. Mr. Smith was born in Florence County, a son of the late William Henry and Mimi Orilla Pickett Smith, Jr. He was a member of Sand Hill Free Will Baptist Church and had retired from Thompson Oil Company after 46 years of service. As a member of "Our Greatest Generation", he was a US Army veteran of WWII, having served in Europe with the Twelfth Armored Division, 493rd Field Artillery. He had a passion for gardening; preparing, planting, and tending a large garden, and sharing the bounty with family, friends and neighbors. He is survived by four daughters, Donna Elaine Smith Pennell of Hoschton, GA, Patricia Ann "Patsy" Smith Weaver (David) Streett of Florence, Kathryn Jane Smith Huggins Newsome of Florence, and Julia Nell Smith (Carey) Keith of Florence; sisters, Bliss Hepburn Sports of Darlington and Evelyn Byrd of Darlington; grandchildren, Matthew (Suzanne) Pennell of Gainesville, GA, Kathryn Pennell of Hoschton, GA, Shannon Smith of Florence, Heath (Courtney) Weaver of Florence, Reid (Erin) Huggins of Florence, Lori Keith and Leah Keith Cooksey of Florence; great-grandchildren, Drake Smith and Amber Smith of Houston, TX, Alexandra Pennell of Gainesville, GA, Ainsley Weaver of Florence, Chandler Huggins of Effingham, Cohen Huggins and Caitlin Cooksey, both of Florence, andhis companion after the death of his wife, his beagle, Freckles. In addition to his wife, Velma Martha Carraway Smith, and his parents, he was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Leo, Ollie, Malry and Emory Smith, and 4 sisters, Adelia Dawson, Gracie Mae Matthews, Nell Johnston and Laura Caulder. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at Lynches Memorial Garden Cemetery in Coward, directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home of Florence. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Sand Hill FWB Church, PO Box 240, Coward, SC 29530 or to a charity of one's choice. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.