Merle Smith, Sr.

Merle Smith, Sr, 72, passed away at Baptist Memorial Hospital on Sept. 2, 2012 from an extended illness.\ \ He was born May 4th, 1940 in Kinsman, Ohio, a son of Floyd H. Smith and June Keeler Smith.\ \ Merle was a self-employed excavator in Ohio and moved to Mississippi in 1981 where he continued an excavating business. He retired in 2010.\ \ He was an avid racecar fan and driver for many years in Ohio and Mississippi.\ \ Survivors include four children, Merle Smith, Jr. of Byram, MS., Steven Smith of Cortland, OH, Pamela Black of Mineral, VA, and Barbara Smith of Cortland, OH; three brothers, Glenn Smith, Larry Smith and Floyd Smith, Jr.; three sisters, Marlene Boorn, Lurine Lawson, and Susie Applegate; six grandchildren, Merle Smith III, Savanna Smith, Bobbie Jo Bayus, Chrissy Bayus, Lisa Herring and Eddie Black; five great grandchildren, Damien, Jeremy, Grant, Grier and Griffin; his companion Carla Pettigrew with whom he resided. \ \ Mr. Smith wished to be cremated, there will be no services....