Patrick Riley Smith

Father Patrick Riley Smith, 73, died of lung cancer on August 29, 2015 at St. Catherine's Village in Madison, MS. Fr. Patrick is survived by his nephew, Matt Smith and wife, Arlena Smith, children, Abbey and Jesse of Summit, MS; his niece, Angela Smith Gore and husband Steve Gore, children Anna, Andrew, Christina, and Julia of Waynesville, NC; sister-in-law, Lloyd Deane Smith of Summit, MS; He was preceded in death by his parents, D.R. and Katherine Smith of Meridian, MS; brother, Mike Smith of Summit, MS; and sister, Ann S. Rye of Macon, GA.

Fr. Patrick was born on September 7, 1941 in Birmingham, AL. He graduated from St. Bernard High School in Cullman, AL. After graduation from West Point Military Academy, he served in the Airborne Unit in the Army as a paratrooper for four years and completed two tours of duty overseas in Korea and the Dominican Republic. He enrolled at The University of Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management. He worked for US Steel in Fairfield, AL, and then went to New Orleans to work as a consultant in offshore drilling. Next, he moved to Meridian, MS to care for his parents and work as a Civil Engineer for the Naval Air Station. He retired from civil service in 1997 and enrolled in the Notre Dame School of Theology in New Orleans, LA in 1998. Following his ordination as a Catholic Priest in 2002, he received his Masters of Theology at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Franklin, Wisconsin.

Fr. Patrick then was a priest at St. Mary of The Pines in Chatawa, MS. He was transferred to Woodville, MS and retired when diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011. Fr. Patrick then moved to St. Catherine's Village in Madison, MS and enjoyed ministering to the villagers there. Fr. Patrick worked with missionaries in India to help children. His hobbies were guitars, music, and fishing.

A visitation will be held Friday, September 4, 2015 at St. Peter’s Cathedral Church in Jackson, MS from 9:00 to 10:30 am, with a Memorial Mass held at 10:30 am.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Patrick Riley Smith Irrevocable Trust; to benefit the poor children of India. Please make the check payable to RBC, and mail to Coker & Palmer at 1667 Lelia Dr., Jackson, MS 39216