Dean Thomas Smathers

Dean Thomas Smathers, 84, of the Bethel Community of Haywood County passed away on August 1, 2024, at Silver Bluff Village with his wife and daughter by his side. He was the only son and middle child of the late Alden Smathers of Beaverdam and the late Rubye Fish Smith of Clyde. His life journey began on June 9, 1940, in the Beaverdam Community of Haywood County.

Dean lead a remarkable life characterized by resilience, hard work, and commitment. Dean lost his father when he was 4 years old and overcame other adversities in his early life to graduate from Canton High School in 1957. Upon graduation, he ventured to Chicago, IL, to experience life at a different pace. For just over two years he worked various jobs, including that of a steel worker in the Windy City, before deciding to attend college. He moved to Morehead, KY, to attend Morehead State University (MSU).

While attending Morehead, Dean would work in the tobacco fields, and, in the summer months, he would return to Chicago as a steel worker to raise money for tuition. He graduated in August of 1964 with a Bachelor of Science. After a short stint in the National Guard, Dean returned to Haywood County, and after working a short time at Ball Corporation in Asheville, he started his career at Dayco Corporation in Waynesville in 1966 where he would work until the plant closed in 1998. Due to his role in Human Resources, he had the unenviable position of being the last of the 775 displaced employees out the door. After leaving Dayco, Dean received an auto-mechanics certification from Haywood Community College, volunteered to work the polls in numerous elections, and stayed active helping his family and friends in any way he could. 

In late winter of 1968, Dean visited his mother who was recovering from surgery in the Haywood County Hospital. The timing of this visit would be a defining moment in his life. During the visit, he met Helena Rogers. Helena worked with his mother at Enka and was visiting Rubye at the same time. Dean’s and Helena’s courtship began shortly after, and they were wed on October 17, 1969. Their loving adoration of one another never declined.

Dean pursued many interests throughout his life and his energy levels were phenomenal. For a time, he made wood burning stoves in the garage behind his home. He worked in commercial farming with his friend Arnold Robinson into his forties. He kept produce gardens into his late seventies. He enjoyed working wood to burn and was a skilled lumber jack. And he always prioritized his family, doing his best to be the father he never had.

Dean saved to ensure his children had college tuition. He became an avid golfer to support his son’s interest in the game and beat the odds once by scoring a hole-in-one. He pushed the importance of studying and hard work. He gifted each of his children an acre of land when they were wed, built a house with his son and daughter-in-law, often worked with his daughter and son-in-law to make land improvements or tend livestock, and adored his grandchildren. His generosity was extraordinary.

Dean had a knack for finding the positive in every situation and could always be counted on for a smile and humorous story. He made people feel seen and heard. The resilience he developed through the experiences of his youth gave him an exuberance for life that he maintained through the challenges of dementia that he encountered in the final years of life. He was cheerful, strived to be happy, and viewed each day as the best day of his life.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife’s parents who loved him as a son, Eula and James Rogers, his adulthood stepfather, Arthur Smith, his brother-in-law and dear friend Jesse Amburgey, and his sister-in-law, Shirley Baldwin.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Helena Smathers, and their children; daughter, Amy Wyatt and husband Stacy of Canton; son Jesse Smathers and daughter-in-law, Hannah Allen of Asheville; grandchildren Christian Wyatt Singleton and husband Drew of Asheville; Regina Allen Curtis and husband Allen of Portsmouth, VA; Leah Wyatt of Canton; and great-grandchild Ronnie Williams; sisters Betty Amburgey and husband Jerry Raxter of Mallie, KY, and Johnnie Sue Bailey and husband Ray of Candler; his sister-in-law Jimmie Ellen Henson and husband Richard of Bethel; his brother-in-law Jack Baldwin of Asheville; and three nieces and six nephews that all thought fondly of their Uncle Dean.

To honor Dean’s wishes, no formal services are planned.

Dean’s care has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory should be made to The Arc of Buncombe County, 50 S. French Broad Ave. #246, Asheville, NC, or through their website: www.arcofbuncombecounty.org.