March 10, 1948 - June 18,2019
Julius Beldwin “Chip” Smoak, Jr., 71, passed away on June 18, 2019 in the comfort of his home with wife Linda at his side, surrounded by family, near and far. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Virginia Ann “Gina” Smoak. J.B. Smoak, Jr. was born March 10, 1948 in Guilford, North Carolina and spent his formative years in Shreveport, LA.
Chip retired as Chief of the Finance Division/Supervisory Lender Relations Specialist in SBA’s Dallas/Fort Worth regional office. He earned distinction for inspiring and helping to launch the long-implemented Low-Doc loan program for small businesses; creating in-house training, lender training, and training modules; and participating in the Business Process Re-engineering and Systems Modernization Initiative. Chip retired to Shreveport, Louisiana and Jefferson, Texas and he and his wife, Linda Slay Smoak, later settled in Bartlett, Tennessee near pine trees and rural settings.
He loved all movies with John Wayne, the T.V. series Gunsmoke and Criminal Minds, and works by author Louis L’Amour. He was also an avid square dancer and dog lover. His Faith was enduring, having become an ordained deacon with the Baptist church while living in Hammond, Louisiana.
Julius leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Linda Smoak and three step-daughters,Lorrie (David) Long and their daughter, Mollee Long,Denise (David) Thompson and their sons, Darren and Dalton Thompson and Shannon (Thomas) Murphy and their sons, Connor and Liam Murphy; Shannon and Mike Kelly of Little Elm,Texas and grand dogs, Abbie and Brie; Heather and her husband, Tim Urena of Alexandria, Louisiana; grand-daughters, Megan Urena, Hailey Urena, and Amanda Urena Ford; great-granddaughter, Emma Ford; Sean and Meg Lybeck-Smoak of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; grand-daughters, Hannah and Lizzie; grand-daughter, Lacey Carter and her husband Norman and great-granddaughters Destiny and Lauren of Hammond, Louisiana;his brother and sister-in-law, Jeffrey Warren “Chuck” and Peggy Smoak, of Lucedale, Mississippi and nephews and their families Steve Smoak and Brian Smoak; nephew Greg Smoak and his children; and nephew (and later adopted brother) John “Dude” Smoak and his family.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until time of funeral service at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN. The interment will be at Memphis Memory Gardens, 6444 Raleigh Lagrange Rd. Memphis, TN officiated by lay minister Kay Atchinson Brockwell of West Memphis, Arkansas.
Contributions in J.B.'s memory may be made to Jefferson Historical Museum.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FamilyFuneralMemphis.com for the Smoak family.
