Clarence Eugene "Gus" Smith

He was born March 21, 1949 in McDowell County to the late Walter Thomas and Mary Magdalene Kelly Smith. Gus worked as an assembly technician for the Caterpillar Company from where he retired. He was a member of Addis Chapel Methodist Church. He was an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam era. He loved music and will be remembered for his love of singing, playing the keyboard and playing in his band. He was a handyman who could fix anything. He will also be remembered as a family man who loved sports and loved the Lord.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a Step Son, Anthony Lawrence Pearson; and a brother, William “Billy” Otis Smith.

Surviving Gus are his wife of 43 years, Katherine “Toni” Smith of Marion; a son, Melvin “Boo Boo” Patrick Smith of Marion; a granddaughter, Brianna Smith; a sister, Helen Daise, husband Anthony of Bowie, MD; five brothers, Edward Leroy Smith, wife Regina, of Charlotte, NC, Danny Lee Smith, wife Vera, of Atlanta, GA, Thomas Smith, Jr., wife Paula, of Asheville, NC, Robert Kelly, wife Shelia, of Darlington, SC, and James William of Newark, NJ; he is also survived by numerous other relatives.

The family will receive friends at the Addis Chapel Methodist Church on Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM at the church following the receiving with Dr. Michael Smith and Pastor Carol Davis officiating. Interment will follow the service at the McDowell Memorial Park with full military honors provided by the North Carolina National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.

Serving as pallbearers will be Carl Ferguson, Larry Boyce, Dee Rutherford, Ray McKesson, Jesse Freeman, Gene Beam, Duke Logan and Gene Hooper. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Martin, Bruce Pearson and Billy Pearson. Flower girls will be Imogene Means, Mary Conelly, Theressa O’Neil, Russell “Duck” Murphy, Vernice Francis and Anita Largent. Honorary flower girls will be Linda Pearson, Eunice Pearson and JoAnne Pearson.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.kirkseyfhmarion.com