Garland "Wayne" Smith

Garland “Wayne” Smith, 95, of North Little Rock passed away on June 25, 2022. He was born April 17, 1928 on his family's farm in Yukon, Oklahoma. He was fourth of the six sons of Ernest and Beadie Jewel (Jones) Smith. After high school, he served in the US Army and then worked as an expert butcher and an award-winning meat salesman in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He retired in 1988, but continued to make the most delicious grilled and smoked meats for his family. 

His passions included gardening, yard work, watching classic Western movies, playing dominos, and Wahoo! He volunteered as the Ole Main Band Booster treasurer and concession worker for 12 years, spending countless hours selling snacks for fundraising at Friday night high school football games and to Razorback fans at War Memorial. He took pride in attending his grandchildren’s activities, including football, karate, and music recitals as well as supporting them at numerous high school and college graduations. 

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Beadie Jewel Smith, brothers Leonard (Esther) Smith, Bill (Bertha Mae) Smith, Virgil Smith, Lawrence Smith and JM Smith. 

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Veta Smith; children Donna Hammond of Edmond, Oklahoma, John (Vicki) Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Cecilia Smith (Thomas) Democko of Tucker, Georgia, Martin Bradley (Lisa) Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas; grandchildren Molly Dowdy, Libbey Hart, Joshua Smith, Erin Democko, Anna Democko, Ross Democko, Taylor Smith; 5 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Betty Smith of Houston, Texas and Lottie Smith of Tipton, Oklahoma.

 A visitation will be held Saturday, July 2, 2022 from 10:00-11:00 am with a funeral service beginning at 11:00 am at Levy Methodist Church, 701 W 47th St, North Little Rock. Interment will be at Edgewood Memorial Park following the funeral service. 

The service can be viewed at LevyUMC Facebook page.