Faye M. Smith, July 31, 1936 ~ January 22, 2022 - Faye was devoted to Jesus and her family and friends. She passed away quickly and peacefully at her home with her husband and one son at her side, joined shortly by her other son and his wife.
Faye met her husband in February 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee while he was stationed at the Naval Air Station. They were engaged in three weeks and married in ten months. She began to sing gospel music professionally while still in high school as the Bonds Sisters Trio. They had a weekly radio show and appeared on the nationally shown TV program of country star Red Foley, The Ozark Jubilee and were scheduled to appear on Arthur Godfrey’s “Talent Scout” before illness forced them to cancel They appeared in the Saturday Evening Post.
She and her sister Glenda later sang backup for gospel star Wally Fowler who founded the original Oak Ridge Boys. After the two sisters retired from the Chuck Wagon Gang, Faye and her sister Glenda joined Roy Carter and Pat McKeon from the group, but under a new name, Roy Carter and the Chucks. The groups sang a number of times at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Shortly after marriage, Faye retired from singing professionally. She continued to sing in church and formed a group called the Mellotones and the Sounds of Praise. They sang in churches in Southern California and Arizona. Today she is singing for Jesus.
She was preceded in death by her middle son, Barry L. Smith of Covina, CA.
Faye is survived by her husband of 63 years, Doyle M. Smith; oldest son, Rick D. Smith of Glendora, CA., and her youngest son, Gary S. Smith (Kathy) of Hesperia, CA; grandchildren, Gary S. Smith, Jr. (Robyn), Amber N. Delk (Chris) of Evansville, IN, Alexandria Smith of Azusa, CA, and Larisa Smith of Upland, CA; and five precious great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 at Alexander East Chapel in Evansville, IN. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the funeral home. The funeral service will be livestreamed beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday at www.facebook.com/funeralstreamusa.
