Homer Lee Smith, 82, of Paris, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at Legend Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5th at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 – 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Homer, the son of John Goodwin Smith & Lula Sargent Smith, was born Oct. 9, 1940, in Vernon, Texas. One of eight children, he grew up in Petty, Texas and graduated from West Lamar High School in 1958. He married Betty Jane Bolton on Nov. 28, 1960, and enjoyed 62 years of happy marriage. Homer became a licensed barber in 1965, and owned and operated Western Oaks Barber Shop for several years before building West Side Barber Shop in 1986. He continued working there until his retirement in November 2019. He had many loyal customers throughout the years that became some of his closest friends. Homer was a Christian man who loved his family with all his heart. His happiest times were spent with his grandsons. He never missed an event or ballgame that they were involved in and was their biggest fan. He provided a strong example for his family to follow Jesus and was an encouragement to anyone that knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, J. L. Smith, John Goodwin Smith, Jr., Luther “Smitty” Smith and sisters, Patsy Penton, and Elgie Wood. Survivors include his wife Betty, daughters, Niki Mathews & husband Duwane, and Kristi Harvey & husband Mike, grandsons, Chris Mathews & wife Courtney, Chase Harvey & wife Chelsea, and Kaden Harvey & fiancé Mariah Howard, great grandchildren, Carter Harvey and Callan Harvey, a brother, Grady Smith, a sister, Shirley Smith and numerous nieces & nephews, extended family and a host of friends. The family would like to extend special thanks to the nurses and staff at Legend Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care and support.
