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OBITUARY

Apr 27, 2018, 13:15 PM by User Not Found

Starkey Smith

Starkey Smith, 1947-2018

Starkey Smith of De Kalb, Texas passed away April 25, 2018, at a Hot Springs, Arkansas, hospital. He was 70.

Smith was born October 21, 1947, in Texarkana, Arkansas, to J.W. Smith Jr. and Bobbie Ann Braswell Smith. He was the captain of the 1965 De Kalb High School football team. During his senior year, he was awarded a scholarship to Tulane University, where he played football until he suffered a knee injury. Smith graduated from East Texas State University with a bachelor of business administration. He began working in the family grocery store at an early age and continued until he was 52. During that time, he and his family grew the small store to five Save Marts, two S-Marts, two Save Mart Pharmacies and a Silver Screen Video Store. He was also a member of the board of directors for Affiliated Foods in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In 1991, Smith became involved in the cutting horse industry. He had numerous top 10 horses in various classes including 1993 Open World Champion Show Biz Sandy, a 1987 mare by Son Ofa Doc. Smith was an NCHA show producer for a number of years, and during the early 90s, his cuttings often featured the top horses who were vying for world champion honors. Starkey Smith Show Biz Billy 2000 Super Stakes

Smith enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a member of First Baptist Church in De Kalb, where he served as a youth Sunday school teacher.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his nephew, John Beck Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Shelva Smith and his son and daughter-in-law Shane and Nancy Smith of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He was known as “Pops” to his beloved grandson, Cooper “Coop” Smith. He is also survived by his aunt, Virginia Braswell Wray of De Kalb; one brother, Stacy Smith of Quinlan, Texas; and numerous other family members and friends.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018, at First Baptist Church in De Kalb with John McCullough, Jason McCullough and Bro. James Sparks officiating. Interment will follow at Woodmen Cemetery in De Kalb.

Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2018, at Bates Family Funeral Home in De Kalb.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 204 W. Fulton, De Kalb, TX 75559.