James David "JD" Smith of Booneville, AR died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at the age of 71. He died at home surrounded by family. The cause of death was an extremely rare form of mesothelioma.
JD was born on October 1, 1944 in Walnut Ridge, AR to James William Smith and Shirley Garrison Smith.
He is a 1961 graduate of Enid High School in Enid, OK. JD joined the Navy on October 4, 1961, where he served until February 1966. He was married in 1967 to Kathryn McMahan (now deceased) and they had two daughters, Angela and Marla. In 1975 JD received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Phillips University in Enid, OK.
He began his career in Electronics at Vance Air Force Base, and then was employed at Schlumberger from 1981 until he retired in 2008. His career as an Electronics Engineer provided him with opportunities to work all over the world.
September 3, 1976, JD and Sheryl Faye Morris were married in Enid, OK, and purchased Sheryl's family farm near Ringwood, OK, where they raised sheep and where JD learned what it meant to be a shepherd. During this time, they had 5 children: Abraham, Conan, Abigail, Rachel and Rebecca. In 1986, they moved to Arkansas where JD and his family have been members of the Greenwood Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake.

JD is survived by his wife, Sheryl, their seven children, and their 14 grandchildren with their first great-grandchild to arrive this Fall:

Angela Smith of Irving, Texas;
Marla Watts and husband Roger Watts and children: Carter Watts and wife Jensynn (and soon to be first great-grandchild), Brooke Hardgrave and husband Doug, Elizabeth Watts, and Emma Watts of Broken Arrow, OK; Abraham Smith and wife Kim and daughters Madison and Scarlett of Salt Lake City, UT; Conan Smith and wife Stephanie of Fayetteville, AR;
Abigail Myers and husband Tristan and children: Zella, Harper, Beckett and Anna of Fayetteville, AR;
Rachel Loerts and husband Cody and son, Albaer, of Prairie Grove, AR;
Rebecca Hansen and husband Noah and daughters: Isabel, Fiona, and Naomi of Little Rock, AR.

He is also survived by his mother, Shirley Smith of Perry, OK and his four siblings: Benny Smith and wife Linda of Perry, OK; Bonnie Bemis and husband Jim of Medina, MN; Kathy Spratt and husband Robert of Indialantic, FL; and Karen King and husband Bob of Norman, OK. JD is survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins with whom JD has developed a relationship due to his devotion to genealogy and family history.

He was preceded in death by his father, James W. Smith.

Pallbearers:
Sons: Abraham Smith and Conan Smith
Sons-in-law: Roger Watts, Tristan Myers, Noah Hansen, and Cody Loerts
Grandson: Carter Watts
Grandson-in-law: Doug Hardgrave

Services will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2016 @ 10:00 am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
8712 Horan Dr
Fort Smith, Ar 72903

Visitation will be on Friday, July 15, 2016 from 6-8pm
Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home
32117 W. Hwy 22, Charleston, AR 72933
(479) 965-8202
Interment (With Military Honors) will be at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery on Rattlesnake Road near his home.

To view video tribute go to http://videos.lifetributes.com/716958