Obituary: Dr. Gary Lee Smith, Sr

Dr. Gary Lee Smith, Sr. loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the Floyd Medical Center following a brief illness.

Dr. Smith was born in Lafayette, Georgia on July 11, 1936, son of the late Thurlo Grady Smith, Sr. and Mary Ella Abney Smith.  He was a Graduate of Lafayette High School, and a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned his Pharmacy Degree and a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia.  Dr. Smith was a member of the Trion United Methodist Church, The Methodist Men’s Group, the Rotary Club, the Chattooga Hospital Authority, and was a longtime medical provider for over 54 years.  He served as a 1984 Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas and loved University of Georgia Football.  He enjoyed playing golf and reading, but his favorite activity was spending time with his family.  In addition to his parents, Dr. Smith was preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia Abney Smith; brother, Grady Smith and  a brother-in-law, Jerry Grimes.

Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Judy Smith; daughters and son-in-law, Mary Marie Smith and Emily Elaine and Shawn Majors; son and daughter-in-law, Gary Lee, Jr. and Melissa Smith; sister, Alice Smith; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Micki Smith, Sue and James Wesson, Carolyn and Ronald Hill, Jimmy Grimes and Tommy and Mary Grimes; grandchildren, Christopher Lee Blanton, Tiffany Marie Blanton(Jordan) Askew, Catherine (Jason) McFarland, and Cameron Lee Smith; great grandchildren, Cailey Askew, Gabriel Askew and Memphis Askew; and a number of nieces and nephews..

Funeral Services for Dr. Smith will be held Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. in the Trion United Methodist Church with Pastor James Hannah and Rev. Charlie Harkleroad of Leadvale Baptist Church officiating.  Private Interment will be in the West Hill Cemetery with Rev. David Autry and Rev. Casey Bramlett officiating.

Pallbearers will be Ben Thompson, Jordan Askew, Jason McFarland, Tommy Grimes, Jimmy Grimes, Shannon Romine, James Wesson and Gary Woods.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Pam Helms, Joe Cook, Tim Thompson, Tommy Thompson, the Hope Sunday School Class, Roy Brown, James Rosato, Betty Bradford, Betty St. Clair and Judy Moates.

Dr. Smith will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and on Tuesday from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Trion United Methodist Church, 810 Pine Street, Trion, GA  30753 or to Pilgrim Ministries, 260 Bartley Wilbanks Road, Clarkesville, GA  30523  

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Dr. Gary Lee Smith, Sr.  Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and to post condolences.