Coach Jerry T. Smith, age 79 of Natchitoches, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

Born Thursday, December 16, 1943 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was preceded in death by his parents, Leda Gorum Smith and Samuel Esley Smith; and his brother, Perry Hardy Smith (Charlotte).

Coach Smith loved sports and enjoyed fishing and coin collecting.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 55 years, Sherrye Smith; sons, Trevor Smith (Kay) and Trenton Smith (Crissey), and goddaughter Shay Van (Reco); grandchildren, Keiffer Smith (Jordyn), Karsen Armstrong (Kevin), Kennedy Smith, Charity Smith, Sadey Smith, and Elijah Van; brothers, Benny Smith (Beth) and Sammy Smith (Mitzi); and his nieces and nephews

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Wheeling, from 10:00 AM until time of services.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church with Rev. Dick DeBusk and Garland Kidd (his best friend) officiating.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Glen Stroud, Walter McLain, Jack McLaren, Darell Reeves, Ronnie Abels, and Gill Harrison. Butch Gilcrease and Roger Dale Hanson will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, Wounded Warriors Project, or a local Humane Society.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com