Ray Vernon Smith

Ray Vernon Smith, age 83 of Hamilton passed away at University Hospital Cincinnati on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 2:45 PM. He was born in Manchester, Kentucky on September 1, 1925 the son of Henry and Lida (Smith) Smith. On January 7, 1943 in Manchester, he married Birdie Smallwood. Ray was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict from 1945 to 1950. He was employed in metal assembly at Fisher Body and was a member of Auburn Old Time Holiness Church.

He is survived by his wife, Birdie Smith of Hamilton; two sons, Jimmy (Theresa) Smith of Camden and Kenneth (Gladys) Smith of Hamilton; five daughters, Josephine (A.B) Gray of Hamilton, Doris Smith of Oxford, Mary Potter of Oxford, Nancy Nelson of Hamilton, and Mattie (Harold) Gray of Oxford; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; several half-siblings; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Amel and Coy Smith; a daughter, Bonnie Smith; five brothers, Charlie, Taylor, Andy, Will and Dave Smith; two sisters, Axie Smith and Georgia Wagers; and two grandchildren, Kenneth Jr. and Lisa Marie Smith.

Funeral service will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Granville Saylor of Auburn Old Time Holiness Church officiating. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 PM.