Travis "Smitty" Jackson Smith
April 20, 1922 - September 18, 2015

Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello ,  AR 71657 9/23/2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Map & Directions Graveside Services Smith Family Cemtery Bradley North 1 Banks ,  AR 71631 9/24/2015 at 10:00 am Map & Directions   Smith Family Cemetery Banks, AR 71631 Bradley County Veterans Museum, Inc. 210 North Main Warren, AR 71671

Travis Jackson Smith, “Smitty” as he was called by many, age 93, peacefully left this earth late in the night of September 18, 2015.

Born April 20th, 1922 in Banks, AR to Chester Dane and Cozy May (Brown) Smith. Travis was named after the National Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop from Waldo, AR, Travis Jackson, who played for the New York Giants. He was the eldest son of seven siblings, Noma Marie Nixon, Rex Smith, Ted Smith, Coy Smith, Cozy Mae Kidwell and Mary McCaskill.

He was a protestant by religion and requested no “sad songs” and no long winded preachers. His written words were; “Be happy I was here, not sorry I am gone. I lived a full life and enjoyed every minute of it”. I loved to dance and was called a “Jitter Bug”. I liked 1950 and 1960 western music, Johnny Cash, Hank Thompson, The Marine Hymn, and the Colonel Bogey March.

He attended Banks High School, was in the CCC Camp 1940-41, and still carried his blaster certificate in his wallet. He was a retired WW II veteran, serving in the Marines and later in the Navy on the USS Hornet doing several world tours. Encouraged by family, he has written many memoirs about these life experiences, which read like a novel or movie script in their attention to details. He said most people only knew about the battles from TV or books, but not the interactions that happened in-between those short newsworthy stints.

For over 20 years he was the electrician at UAM (A&M) College in Monticello, fixing everything. He never missed a home football game. Having to open and lock up the field, he had the best parking spot ever! His white service truck always parked inside the gate was a fixture at the games.

During this time he met and married Helen Rebecca Cook (Camden-Harmony Grove). They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 13th, 2015. They raised four “Smith” kids, Susan Rebecca, Tracasa Michelle (Travis named her for the Asa Smith in each generation), James Jackson, and Deanna Marie.

After retiring from UAM he became a commercial net fisherman, enjoying what he loved best, “fishing”. His favorite pastime was catching Crappie with a pole and jig, though. Many pounds of fish where cut up and sold either behind his home at his “fish shed” or at Carson’s Store below the square in town. He will always be remembered for frying a mess of fish with his fry daddy almost every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Cozy May, siblings, Rex Smith and Noma Marie Nixon, his only son, James Jackson Smith and nephew Norman Nixon.

Survivors are his wife of 50 years Helen Smith, three daughters and their families, Susan and Mark Johnson (Emerson, AR), Tracasa and Donavon Cooper (Monticello, AR), and Deanna and Jeff Isacson (Colorado Springs, CO). Four Grandchildren, Steven Cooper (21), Haley Johnson (13), Jackson Johnson (7), Asa Isacson (4). Four siblings and their families, Ted and Hazel Smith(Tinsman, AR), Coy and Jenny Smith(Monticello, AR), Cozy Mae Kidwell(Sulpher Springs, TX), Mary and Buddy McCaskill (Warren, AR) and many nephews and nieces and great grand nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8pm Wednesday September 23rd, 2015 at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday September 24th, 2015 at the Smith Family Cemetery in Banks. Online guestbook at www.stephensondearman.com.