Roy William Smith, Jr. age 99 of Decherd passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at St. Thomas West in Nashville. A native of Franklin County, he was born in Alto on February 11, 1927, to the late Roy William, Sr. and Anesta (Rose) Smith. At the age of fourteen, he quit high school and started earning a living by helping his dad on the farm. Soon after, he got a loan for $1200 for the purpose of purchasing his first truck, thus beginning his decades-long trucking career. In 1961 with the help of his dad and his friend John Keller, the Smith and Keller Grain Company was opened. Throughout the years, he operated the granary with the help of his son Bill, while also engaging in various business endeavors such a Deutz Tractor Dealership with his friend Pack Medley. He also found time to willingly serve his local community. He stayed in touch with folks he met from all over the country as he valued their knowledge but mostly their friendship. He was a well-known storyteller of his life adventures and always delighted in hearing a good story in return. He was completely smitten with the love of his life, Clementine, and he loved to tell their story. He was well read, a gardener, a bird hunter, and a huge UT Sports enthusiast to include football, baseball, softball and both women’s and men’s basketball. For many years in his youth, Roy played baseball on the teams of both Pelham and Alto of the Mountain Valley Baseball League. Legend has it that he never made an error. It brought him tremendous joy to go to his grandchildren’s ball games and to all family gatherings. He was raised in the Methodist Church but later converted to Catholicism and was a dedicated member of Saint Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of seventy-four years, Mary Clementine “Tine” Gallagher Smith; siblings, Dorothy Swann and John Wayne “Buddy” Smith; son, Roy “Bill” William Smith III; son-in-law, Charles Stovall; daughters-in-law, Betty Smith and Kimberly Smith; and grandchildren, Patrick Shay Smith and Holly Rochelle Smith. Roy is survived by his loving children, Pamela (Jim) Martin, Cynthia Rose Stovall, Lauralee Stephens, Joe Wayne Smith, Patti Sue (Jimmy Dale) Huber, Glenn Dale (Kimberly Ann) Smith, and Stacie (Shannon) Medley; brother, Charles Dillon “PeeWee” Smith; and grandchildren, Chris (Misti) Smith, Nicholas Smith, Sloane Smith, Gabrielle Coleman, Olivia (Scott) Frankenfield, Jeremy (Lisa) Stephens, Ashley (Matt) Davis, Paige Eckstein, Dylan (Shelley) Stephens, Adam Smith, Jonas Smith, Miles Smith, Eric (Alicia) Huber, Haley (Kevin) Herring, Hannah (Jacob Lewis) Huber, Joshua Smith, Courtney (Stephen) Britton, Colby Medley, and Luke (Christina) Medley; many precious greatgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 11am-2pm on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. Interment will be at Franklin Memorial Gardens with Chris, Nicholas, Jeremy, Dylan, Adam, Jonas, Miles, Eric, Joshua, Colby, and Luke all serving as pallbearers. Moore – Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2222, www.moorecortner.com
