James Richard Smith, age 72, of Burnsville, went Home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 2nd, 2022. A native of Watsonville, California, he was a son of the late Jim and Wilma Henson Smith. He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Haleigh Faith Norton, as well as six siblings: Johnny Smith, George Smith, Myrtle Smith, Frankie Henson, Evelyn Henson and David Ray Smith.
Richard was known as a “Jack of all trades” with a career spent as a deputy, in addition to being a truck driver and doing maintenance. His family was the most important thing in life to him, and he lovingly and humorously picked on his girls to ‘keep them in line’.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 40 years, Teresa Davis Smith; three daughters: Becky Holden (Jerry) of Spruce Pine, Emily Dufour (Brad) of Branson, Missouri, and Jane Norton (Tommy) of Burnsville; six grandchildren: Samuel Franklin (Lexi), Cole Holden, Jacob Thomas, Hayden Thomas, Jaxon Norton and Chloe Norton; a brother: Bobby Henson (Irene) of Spruce Pine; and three sisters: Joyce Hall of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jean Reithknecht (RIT-NICK) of Watsonville, California, and Barbara Pendley (Phillip) of South Toe. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and other extended family included their wonderful friends, Paul and Kathy Gouge of South Toe.
Funeral Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6th in the chapel of Yancey Funeral Services with Chaplain Dan Slate officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 p.m. A graveside service with Law Enforcement Honors will follow in the Bryant-Gibbs Cemetery in Celo.
The family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Yancey County Sheriff’s Department to their “Shop with a Sheriff Fund” at 4 East Main Street in Burnsville, NC 28714 which benefits children at Christmastime. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
