Carroll Smathers

Waynesville, Carroll Lee Smathers, 89, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at his home. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Clayton and Nola Wooten Smathers and was also preceded in death by daughters, Kathleen Kay Smathers and Sandra Grasty and a son, Jeffrey Smathers. Carroll enlisted in the US Army in 1945 during World War II and served in the Army Signal Corp. He was stationed at Panama Canal (1946–1954) and twice at Aleutian Chain, Alaska (1954–55 and 1966–67) erecting communication towers. He was commissioned Warrant Officer in 1955 in the Army Security Agency, Arlington, Virginia; Kassell, Germany (1959–62); and Fort Hauchuca, Arizona (1962–66), retiring in 1967 as Warrant Officer CW3 and later became an active member of the American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville. Following Army retirement, Carroll worked as an electronic engineer for Taylor Instruments in Arden and at Ritter, located in Asheville. Carroll was a member of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church. Carroll is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bernice Lovell Smathers; two sons, Carroll Smathers, Jr. and his wife, Kim, of Nashville, Tennessee and Ed Smathers of Waynesville; a daughter, Belinda Lowe and her husband, Edwin; son-in-law, Fred Grasty; nine grandchildren, Johnna Jacobs, Shaun Smathers, Cody Grasty, Savanna Lowe Rickman, Kaelyn Singleton, Beth Lowe Kahl, and Corey, Collin and Conner Smathers; and one great-grandson, Vaun Smathers. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church with Father Richard Benonis officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Legion Post 47 or the Ladies Auxiliary, P.O. Box 911, Waynesville, NC 28786 or to St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, P.O. 1359, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

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